November 29, 2006
A new exhibition hall to be built in Nangang could bring the conference and exhibition business in Taiwan to new heights, said Huang Chih-peng, Director-General of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT).
The Nangang Exhibition Center, which is slated for completion in April 2007, will hold 2,600 exhibition spaces, twice the size of the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC).
As Taiwan heavily relies on international trade, holding exhibitions and conferences are the most direct and effective way to attract buyers and manufacturers from all over the world, said Huang.
Moreover, conferences and exhibitions bring direct business and trade opportunities, as well as trickle-down benefits for the tourism and retail sectors -- factors that governments of all countries consider, Huang added.
The pressure is on for Taiwan to remain competitive in this field, as Japan, Korea, and mainland China are all moving to attract more conferences and exhibitions. Huang noted that Taiwan already enjoys a good reputation the Asia-Pacific region for its conferences and exhibitions.
The Taipei World Trade Center complex is perfectly-designed, and to date, attracts 30 international-level events per year, and has brought tens of thousands of foreign companies to Taiwan to either participate in exhibitions or for tourism, said Huang.
However, the TWTC does not have much time to perform regular maintenance because it is used at full capacity 85% of the year, said Huang.
Moreover, TWTC has already found itself short on space, as many companies wish to expand their exhibits. Newer companies also find themselves unable to gain access for the lack of space.
This prompted the government to draw up plans for the Nangang Exhibition Center, which is expected to handle overflow from the Taipei WTC and to invigorate up the conference and exhibition business in Taiwan.
While some may worry that Nankang is farther away than the TWTC, Huang said that the Neihu Line of the Taipei MRT is scheduled to be in operation by 2008, while the Nangang MRT Line will reach the area by 2010. Meanwhile, the Nangang Train Station will also have completed construction of its facilities for the MRT, regular train, and high speed rail in the same year, completing the traffic network for the area.
Huang said that after the Nangang Exhibition Center is completed, Taiwan could rise from Asia's 7th ranking for exhibition halls and surpass South Korea to take the
No. 6 spot.
Huang also noted that Taiwan would host an APEC conference on the MICE (Meetings Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) industry next year, which will help further raise the standard of conferences and exhibitions held in Taiwan.
(Economic Daily News)
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