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Medical equipment show attracts more than 60,000 visitors

The four-day international medical equipment show closed yesterday, with more than 60,000 visitors participating in the event this year, a statement released yesterday said.

The number of foreign buyers grew slightly to 615 this year, up 2 percent from the previous year, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA, 外貿協會) said in the statement.

Japanese buyers led the number of foreign guests at 90, or a 14.6 percent share, TAITRA said. There were 63 buyers from China, 54 from the US, 47 from Hong Kong and 45 from Canada, it said.

The 19th Taipei International Show on Medical Equipment, Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology made the news on its opening day on Thursday when a middle-aged man shouted at President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and complained about the status of people's livelihood.

That noise aside, the event proceeded smoothly and won praise from foreign buyers for the new and diversified products on display, TAITRA publicity manager Cavan Pai (白德雄) said.

Pai said the medical equipment industry is one of the few local industries that has managed to maintain double-digit annual growth in recent years, despite strong competition from other regional economies.

Exports of medical equipment are expected to grow 10.1 percent year-on-year to NT$29.5 billion (US$915 million), the government's latest forecast said.

Next year's medical equipment show will be held from Nov. 6 to Nov. 9, TAITRA said.
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