Taiwan’s overseas trade council is hosting a forum on doing business with Southeast Asian countries in an effort to boost Taiwan’s flagging exports.
Over 42 investors and 250 firms from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries joined the forum.
Council head Liang Kuo-hsin said that taken together, the ten ASEAN member states make up Taiwan’s second largest export market, accounting for 20% of Taiwan’s total exports. Indonesia and Vietnam are among Taiwan’s biggest trading partners in Southeast Asia.
“The business forum was originally planned for early 2016. We decided to host it early due to the gloomy export performance this year,"said Liang.
"We have also expanded the forum’s reach, inviting local government officials, business representatives, and investors. The forum in the morning will be followed by business discussions in the afternoon.”
Liang said Taiwan’s main exports to ASEAN countries are semi-conductors, electronic devices, petrochemical raw materials, and brand-name products. The forum is expected to create business opportunities worth US$50-60 million.