Chinese firms keen on Taiwan IT show: organisers

December 1, 2010

Next year's show is expected to attract 40,000 foreign buyers, generating 23 billion US dollars in business

The exhibition venue for the Computex Taipei IT show is seen in June. Taiwan has said it expects the number of Chinese firms participating in Asia's biggest IT exhibition to rise by more than 60 percent in 2011 from this year.

Taiwan said Wednesday it expects the number of Chinese firms participating in Asia's biggest IT exhibition to rise by more than 60 percent in 2011 from this year.

Around 200 firms from China are likely to take part in Computex, the Taipei International Information Technology Show, in the middle of the year, compared with about 120 this year, organisers said.

"Now travel between the two sides are much more easier than before... more Chinese companies are looking for business opportunities here," said Walter Yeh, executive vice president of the Taipei World Trade Centre.

Among the signs of fast warming ties are a growing number of direct flights across the Taiwan Strait and the signing of the sweeping Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) they forged in June.

The landmark pact has been widely characterised as the boldest step yet towards reconciliation between the former rivals, who split at the end of a civil war in 1949.

About 1,800 exhibitors are scheduled to display more than 5,000 booths in the trade show running from May 31 to June 4. It is expected to attract 40,000 foreign buyers, generating 23 billion US dollars in business.

China still considers Taiwan part of its territory awaiting reunification, and it has not ruled out using force to get the island back.

But ties have improved markedly since Ma Ying-jeou of the Beijing-friendly Kuomintang party won a presidential election in 2008 promising to beef up trade links and allow in more Chinese tourists.