Taiwan presents itself online

Taiwan's economy is very much concentrated around export. That is particularly true of the hardware industry. In 2019, Taiwan's hand tool industry export value surpassed USD 3.79 bn, earning Taiwan a top three worldwide ranking.
Even though the country reacted very quickly, consequently and, in the end, successfully to the threat of coronavirus, the economy felt the effects of the global pandemic due to its export orientation: business contacts are harder to maintain.
The hardware industry reacted quickly to this and was supported in doing so by the state. The Taiwan External Trade Development Council, in short Taitra, organised and technically implemented online presentations, and through their 63 offices in the export economy's target regions, the addressees were also reached.
Taitra was able to draw upon a wide-ranging business network, not only in the hardware industry. It is important to know: this state business development corporation is celebrating its 50th birthday this year - it was therefore able to use five decades in order to build up and maintain this network.
Taitra put these years of experience into practice in the global economically strained situation. "The Taiwanese suppliers mostly maintain contact with their customers via e-mail and video conferences," reports Simon Wang, executive vice president of Taitra. In order to strengthen these contacts right now in particular, "they are delighted to join Taitra in this online event to reach out to buyers and media all over the world," the Taitra manager reports of the response that Taitra's activities in the industry have met with. After all, it's not only about online presentations, but also, for example, webinars or online training courses for which Taitra has booked speakers from different industries and international research institutions.
The first Taiwan Excellence Virtual Hardware and Fastener Industry Press Conferences have therefore already taken place. Taitra also used the second date mid May to launch its 24/7 exhibition centre featuring an industrial loft-style pavilion with augmented reality demonstrations of featured products from 28 Taiwanese companies.