Taiwan Expo 2020 Goes Online

The annual Taiwan Expo 2020 is back in Malaysia. This time, it is very special as the 3 days Taiwan Expo is hosted online where everyone can visit it without leaving their home or office. Held from 25th to 27th of November 2020, the latest instalment of this popular trade expo will utilize the latest in 360-degree 3D virtual reality to recreate the exhibition hall for a truly immersive online experience. Visitors will be able to experience the future of exhibitions and participate in the continued growth of Taiwan-Malaysia economic and trade relations.

Group photo from left to right: 

Dr. Suo-Hang Chuang, Chairman, Taipei World Trade Center

Dr. Guann-Jyh Lee, Deputy Director General, Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA)

Mr. Khairul Annuar Abdul Halim, Director of China & Northeast Asia Section, Exports Promotion & Market Access Division, Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE)

Mr. James C. F. Huang, Chairman, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)

Ms. Anne Hung, Representative, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia

Ms. Sharon Ho Swee Peng, President, Malaysian Friendship and Trade Centre, Taipei

Datuk Michael Kang Hua Keong, National President, SME Association of Malaysia

On the lovely morning of 24th November 2020, Mr. James C.F. Huang, Chairman of Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) presided over the opening ceremony together with other VIPs including Ms. Sharon Ho Swee Peng, President of Malaysia Friendship and Trade Centre, Taipei; Ms. Anne Hung, Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia; Mr. Khairul Annuar Abdul Halim, Director of China & Northeast Asia Section, Exports Promotion & Market Access Division MATRADE; and Datuk Michael Kang Hua Keong, National President of SME Association of Malaysia.

I took the opportunity to join the live streamed Grand Opening event as a blogger. It's so nice to see Malaysians from various circles greeted their Taiwanese counterparts in different languages including Malay, English, Chinese, etc, in a warm show of welcome during the live streamed meeting. Not only that, distinguished guests from Taiwan and Malaysia also joined in to take group picture with the butterfly hand gesture that symbolised Taiwan. Following that, the VIPs proceeded with a virtual handshake to signal the building of strong ties and cooperation and to lift the curtains to the Taiwan Expo 2020 in Malaysia.

Mr. James Huang mentioned that Taiwan and Malaysia have always had a close relationship. Although the global pandemic has made physical exchange difficult, with the help of technology and digitalization, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries continues to thrive – no better an example than Taiwan Expo in Malaysia 2.0.

On Taiwan-Malaysia economic and trade relations, Ms. Anne Huang emphasized that Taiwan and Malaysia’s economy and trade are complementary to each other. Taiwan was the 6th largest trading partner of Malaysia’s, while Malaysia being Taiwan’s 7th largest trading partner, reaching bilateral trade of nearly US$20 billion in 2019. She also believes that Taiwan Expo can create greater economic benefits for Taiwan-Malaysia economic and trade exchanges.

Additionally, Mr. Khairul Annuar stated that, MATRADE and TAITRA have recently extended their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by another 2 years with the objective of further enhancing bilateral trade cooperation and trade promotion in the following areas: Halal Goods, F&B, ICT and e-Commerce. He believes that in addition to the aforementioned areas, Taiwan and Malaysia can also further collaborate on a variety of other areas including Industry 4.0, smart machinery, and digital healthcare.

Globally Recognized Anti-Pandemic Results

The event organizer TAITRA stated that Taiwan Expo 2020 in Malaysia will showcase products from 200 exhibitors in 13 themed pavilions across seven major categories including Taiwan Good, Taiwan Lifestyles, Health Care & Beauty, Gadgets & Green Tech, Industry 4.0, Taiwan Tourism, and Halal Taiwan. In view of the ongoing battle against the global pandemic, the Bureau of Foreign Trade has brought together more than 2,000 Taiwanese manufacturers in the personal protection equipment industry and 20 medical institutions to create the Taiwan Global Anti-Covid-19 Pavilion, a one-stop online medical platform, that will showcase the latest in pathogen detection, testing, and back-end smart medical systems.

The sudden outbreak of the pandemic has made it impossible to engage in face-to-face business negotiations, but Taiwan’s prowess in its information and communication technologies has opened a new path in the online sphere. Taiwan has shown its ability and willingness to assist its global partners in battling the pandemic through its Taiwan Can Help initiative which has allowed Taiwan Expo to achieve outstanding results in Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. Each business matching session attracted more than 200 buyers and each station handled more than 400 one-to-one business discussions. It is in fact more effective and hence TAITRA expects the number of visitors to Taiwan Expo Malaysia to be in the tens of thousands in the three days.

One-Click to Unlock Business Opportunities

Malaysian visitors can visit the official website (https://taiwanexpo.online/en/) to enter the virtual lobby and then proceed to the desired product area according to their needs. There are more than 100 online booths and products are displayed in 3D virtual reality. Visitors can freely move around the various exhibition areas like navigating a live exhibition hall in a purpose-built immersive experience. The 360-degree seamless panning further enhances the experience and there are various links to product videos on the website for added information. Whether you are interested in the products, culture, food, clothing, housing and transportation solutions, or technology to combat the pandemic, there is bound to be something that you will fancy. The amazing range of outstanding products is proof that Taiwan is an indispensable in the global industrial chain.

Professional purchasers who are looking to negotiate with manufacturers need only click on the one-click Chat Now function to enter a video chat with the manufacturer representatives.

Various online activities are lined up including presentations on medical technologies and products, halal products, renewable energy, and environmental protection products. Malaysian purchasers are invited to join the videocast of the Taiwan Excellence Award Ceremony scheduled to premier on the morning of the event’s second day (26th November).

Huge Market for Halal Products and Bubble Tea

This year’s event will showcase 19 halal products including various halal certified snacks, raw materials and condiments including Ress Group’s squid ink known to enhance immunity and is free from artificial pigments and preservatives. Flavor Full Foods’ Pure Sesame Oil has gained a strong following with its strong nutty aroma that enhances the flavour of any dish. Hi-Q Marine Biotech International’s Health Ingredient and Supplements are effective in the fight against obesity while supporting liver and cardiovascular health at the same time. Hi Duo Bio-Tech Business’ Tapioca Milk Tea Raw Material Service Manufacturing provides a comprehensive range of materials for businesses looking to build a supply chain factory. The manufacturers are looking for suitable partners in Malaysia to generate business opportunities.

In response to the call by the Malaysian government to accelerate the move towards green industries, Taiwan Expo is showcasing green tech such as Sun Rise E&T Corporation’s Solar Floating System, Eulife Technology’s Dimmable Capability LED Driver, and more. Taiwan Excellence Pavilion will also showcase high quality integrated medical treatment technologies such as MERITS Health Products’ Multi-Rehab Function Power Wheelchair, Asiatic Fiber’s Wearable E-Massage Textiles.

The Health Care Pavilion will bring together many well-known hospitals to share with the audience their latest medical equipment and services, including the world renowned Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Tzu Chi Hospital and more. Detailed information and video links are available on the official expo website.

Desirable Kitchen & Bath Hardware

The Covid-19 global pandemic has shaped society in profound ways as we embrace a “zero-touch” contactless way of life made possible through ICT integration and various smart kitchen and bath hardware products from Taiwan. Some of the highlighted products include: the automatic 2+1 function sensor activated faucet with soap dispenser, AIoT smart networking plumbing hardware products, and other sanitation hardware products from renowned Taiwanese makers including HGG, ALEX, Kaiser, Caesar, Globe Union, St-Group, etc. Buyers looking for that designer touch in their water hardware need not look further than the award winning JUSTIME series by Sheng Tai Brassware Co Ltd, that has picked up numerous international awards including Red Dot, IF, IDEA, etc. The Taiwan-Malaysia Aesthetic Kitchen Water Hardware Ecosystem formed in recent years further solidified the industry’s expansion into Malaysia.

Don't miss the chance to visit Taiwan Expo 2020 in Malaysia Online. The access is free and and the expo is held for 3-days from the 25th to 27th of November 2020.

Taiwan Expo 2020 official website - https://taiwanexpo.online/en/

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact the Taiwan Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur at +60 (3) 2031-2388 or email to kl@taitra.org.tw