Taiwan's Computex opens, 35,000 overseas buyers expected (Roundup)

Jun 3, 2008, 13:37 GMT

Taipei - Computex Taipei, the world's second-largest computer show, began Tuesday with organizers expecting the fair to attract more than 35,000 overseas buyers.

President Ma Ying-jeou opened the fair, which occupies three halls at the Taipei World Trade Centre in downtown Taipei and the newly opened Nankang Exhibition Hall in the Taipei suburb. Ma visited both venues and said he hoped the exhibition would bring more business opportunities to Taiwan.

'Some 70 companies from 22 countries are participating in Computex Taipei 2008,' Ma said. 'They are expected to create 1.5 billion to 2 billion US dollars in business revenues and another 1 billion US dollars in tourism revenues.'

The show has attracted 1,425 exhibitors who have set up 4,491 booths, up 30 and 53 per cent, respectively, from Computex 2007.

Computex is the world's second-largest computer show after CeBIT in Germany.

Besides showcasing the exhibitors' latest computer and wireless products, Computex Taipei will also focus on environmental-friendly products.

'The world trend is to save energy and reduce carbon emissions, so information technology companies are thinking how they can create green products,' said Walter Yeh, vice president of the show's organizer, Taiwan External Trade Development Council.

'We are not competing to be the world's largest computer show, but we want to display the best products. And this year's show has several features, one of them is Green IT (information technology),' he added.

Many Taiwan manufacturers have unveiled their newest products at Computex Taipei, which runs until Saturday. They include small and light mini notebook computer, notebook computers whose casings are made of bamboo or corn plastic, and gadgets that can help notebook computer save power and speed up wireless connection.

Taiwan is among the world's leaders in information technology but faces fierce competition from neighbouring countries like Japan, South Korea and China.

Most Taiwan information industry companies operate on an OEM (original equipment manufacturing) basis in which they make computers and components which bear the brand names of large international companies. About 90 per cent of the world's OEM information technology products are made in Taiwan.

But in recent years Taiwan firms have strengthens research and development so that Taiwan can produce its own products. Several Taiwan companies, like Acer and ASUS, are world-reknown companies producing a wide line of products like server, notebook computer and computer peripherals.