More visitors from abroad

The attendance figures for visitors to the 2013 Taiwan Hardware Show indicated an increase of some ten per cent on the previous year’s result. Of the 23 847 visitors registered at the event, 3 248 had come from abroad; that was around 16 per cent more than in 2012. The exhibitor numbers at the show, which was staged from 21 – 23 October, hovered around the previous year’s level. The organisers – the Kaigo exhibition company and the Taiwan Hand Tool Manufacturers’ Association – are emphasizing the international character of the event, especially on the visitor side. For instance, buyers came not only from Europe, the USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, but from a great number of other regions as well, including emerging countries. Represented there were Russia, the Middle East, South-East Asia with countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, plus Africa and South America. There was also a delegation from the China National Hardware Electric and Chemical Products Commercial Association. According to the organisers, their first-time offer of a free service to arrange appointments between suppliers and buyers was taken up enthusiastically by both sides. It is reported that the orders effected per buyer came to an average value of US $ 125 000. A figure of US $ 700 mio is put on the total volume of orders resulting from both the event itself and post-fair business. The fair was held for the first time in the Greater Taichung International Expo Center. The city of Taichung is seen as the heart of the Taiwanese hardware industry. The range of goods on offer was structured in eight product categories: tools and accessories, locks and fittings, fasteners, building materials and DIY, garden equipment and accessories, automotive, industrial supplies and security systems. There were lectures on all three days as part of the supplementary programme. In addition the organisers offered an opportunity to visit manufacturing companies in the region.