Computex Taipei 2007 is preparing to open its doors this morning to 132 000 visitors from over 140 countries.
In its 27th year, this year's show sees almost 3 000 booths set up by a total of 1 300 companies from around the world.
Last night, diplomats from around the world - including SA's representative from its liaison office in Taiwan, Petrus Meyer - converged on the World Trade Centre to officially open the faire.
Taiwan's deputy minister of economic affairs, Fadah Hsieh, declared the IT industry as the country's economic locomotive.
"Taiwan has been proud of its all-faceted ICT industry supply chain from design, manufacturing, packaging, testing to system development, you name it. We started our ICT business as original equipment manufacturers and have gradually transformed into the original design manufacturing stage. Our next goal is to move to the own brand manufacturing stage," he said.
Cyber city
On the back of a thriving IT industry, Taipei City deputy mayor Chung-Yih Lin said plans to make Taipei a "cyber city" were well under way.
"In 2002, we received the Public Sector Global IT Excellence Award from the World Congress on Information Technology. In 2003, the World Teleport Association chose us as one of seven smart cities, and in 2005 the Taipei City government cooperated with Chung Hwa Telecom and Intel to launch a wireless local area network in the Hsin-yi District. This is expected to be available throughout Taipei City this year. These all indicate that our aim to set up Taipei as a cyber city has earned world recognition," he noted.
The organiser of the event, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (Taitra), expects $14 billion worth of business to be conducted at Computex, up 10% from last year's $12.5 billion in on-site orders and sales.
Taitra executive VP Walter Yeh added over 100 companies hopeful of a chance to exhibit at the faire had to be turned away due to space restrictions, but there are plans to extend the available space next year.
Computex Taipei has filled the facilities of all three of Taiwan's World Trade Centre exhibition halls, as well as the Taipei International Convention Centre. Semiconductor design company Via Technologies has secured space at the nearby Grand Hyatt to host its Via Technology Forum on Wednesday.
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