Manila: A Taiwan trade fair launched in the Philippines, targeting US$50 million in business opportunities. The Taiwan Expo, organized by the International Trade Administration and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), has attracted more than 140 Taiwanese enterprises.
According to Focus Taiwan, the expo is being held over three days with themes such as "Green and Sustainability," "Agritech and Aquatech," "Health and Wellness," "Smart Technology," and "Intelligent Lifestyle." The event commenced with freestyle basketball and Taiwanese street dance performances, symbolizing the cooperation between Taiwan and the Philippines.
The opening ceremony was led by TAITRA Chairman James Huang and Wilson Tecson, a board member of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO). Post-ceremony, Huang highlighted the changed international trade landscape since the last Taiwan Expo in 2019, emphasizing the Philippine government and business sector's focus on Taiwan's technologies amid global supply chain restructuring and geopolitical tensions.
Huang recalled that previous expos in 2017 and 2019 resulted in trade deals exceeding US$50 million, expressing confidence that this year will be no different, enhancing economic ties between Taiwan and the Philippines. He noted the Philippines' considerable consumer power due to its 110 million population, attracting more Taiwanese companies amid supply chain changes.
Taiwan's representative to the Philippines, Wallace Chow, stated that the Philippine government is advancing telecom infrastructure, green energy, agricultural processing, and industrial zones, aligning with Taiwan's development in information technology, green technologies, and smart manufacturing. Chow expressed hopes for shared industrial development information, creating a win-win scenario.
Enunina Mangio, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), voiced strong support for the efforts by Taiwan and the Philippines to establish a comprehensive partnership, encouraging business leaders and PCCI members to participate.
The expo's "Health and Wellness" pavilion promoted healthcare access, featuring international referrals, specialty health services, AI diagnosis, and other technologies. The "Agritech and Aquatech" pavilion showcased a technology chain from production to consumption, focusing on AI and cold chain logistics to boost the resilience and sustainability of the Philippines' agricultural and fishery sectors.
Economic ties between Taipei and Manila have strengthened, with 2024 bilateral trade reaching US$6.71 billion, making Taiwan the Philippines' 11th largest trading partner. In the first seven months of the year, bilateral trade rose 8.5 percent from the previous year, elevating Taiwan to the Philippines' 10th largest trading partner, according to government data.