The COVID-19 pandemic has hurt business across many sectors worldwide. But not everyone is feeling the pinch. Certain Taiwanese companies, backed by Taiwan’s foreign trade council, are even looking at the pandemic as an opportunity to go big.
If there’s one thing COVID-19 has demonstrated, it’s just how much can be done online. Even international trade fairs are going virtual these days—and yes, despite the pandemic’s economic impact, there is plenty of business to be done if you’re in the right field.
On Monday, Taiwan’s foreign trade council, TAITRA, brought together 15 Taiwanese biotech and medical supply firms to show off their wares internationally. Representatives of more than 200 foreign media outlets and buyers attended the trade show virtually.
TAITRA President and CEO Walter Yeh says that now is the big chance for the companies taking part. He says that Taiwan’s success tackling COVID-19 and its international donations of high quality surgical masks have raised the image of Taiwanese industry abroad. He says the quality of Taiwanese-made medical supplies has attracted a growing number of international buyers.
It’s not just masks, gowns, and face shields, either. On display were products like a robot that uses ultraviolet light to disinfect. The company behind this robot has already seen overall sales in the first quarter grow 30% from the same period last year. It’s already sold more than a hundred robots to China alone. Now, the company, and others like it, are getting even more ambitious and looking to go global.