Taiwan companies should further utilize their edge in the photovoltaic industry and make inroads into Southeast Asia, where there is growing need for green energy, government officials said yesterday.
The government has been backing the industry to help local companies tap into European markets, but now they are eying Southeast Asia as the next target, said Lee Chun-li (李君禮), a senior specialist at the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Bureau of Energy.
These neighboring countries are now on the lookout for solar energy products and need the related advanced technology, thanks to a growing awareness of the importance of green energy and a sustainable environment, he told reporters at the pre-event media briefing of the “Taipei Summit.”
Taiwan’s photovoltaic industry has a complete supply chain established — from upstream ingots and wafers to midstream cells and modules to downstream systems. The industry last year churned out an output value of US$3.3 billion, more than double the 2007 figure. Its solar cell production capacity grew to 900 megawatts-peak (MWp) last year with annual output comprising 12 percent of the global market, ranking it the fourth in the world.
Therefore, companies should continue to ride on their competitiveness and spread their wings further into overseas markets, Lee said.
This year’s Taipei Summit, which will take place at the Taipei International Convention Center on Tuesday and Wednesday, will highlight the topic of photovoltaic industry and the government intends to seize the chance to explore further business opportunities with other countries.
More than 80 industrial and association representatives from across the Asia-Pacific region will gather at the summit. Of them, there are 23 government officials, with Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand sending vice ministers.
Meanwhile, at the same time the Taiwan International Photovoltaic Forum and Exhibition will be held at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1.
Business opportunities created during last year’s forum exceeded NT$1 billion (US$31 million) and more than 90 percent of visitors had showed high interest in coming to this year’s event, which is expected to generate a similar amount of business, the organizers said.
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