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進入《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》Computex attracts record number of overseas buyers
Two visitors examine a wearable gadget developed by Singapore-based Oaxis Holdings at the Computex fair in Taipei on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
TECHNOLOGICAL ATTRACTION: Tech fair visitors from the United Arab Emirates increased the most this year, likely attributable to direct flights from Dubai to Taipei
By Helen Ku / Staff reporter
This year’s Computex attracted a record number of international buyers in its 34-year history as the world’s second-largest computer show after CeBIT exhibited an ever-wider selection of products, including wearable devices, the organizer said.
The annual tech fair ended its five-day exhibition on Saturday and attracted 130,000 visitors and 38,660 buyers from 166 countries, about 1 percent more than 38,300 buyers last year, Taiwan External Trade Development Council （TAITRA, 外貿協會） executive vice president Walter Yeh （葉明水） told a press conference on Saturday.
By country, China was the largest source of buyers at this year’s Computex with 5,000 Chinese buyers joining the annual event, followed by the US, Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea, according to TAITRA.
In terms of growth in foreign visitors, visitors from the United Arab Emirates increased the most, by 22.2 percent over last year, followed by the Philippines and Sweden by 18.8 percent and 15.6 percent respectively, TAITRA said.
Yeh said the growth in visitors from the United Arab Emirates was attributable to the launch of direct flights between Taipei ad Dubai.
Businesses in dollar amounts were estimated to have totaled US$28 billion, up 12 percent from last year’s US$25 billion. The amount is about 25 percent of total orders Taiwanese tech firms received from clients in foreign countries every year, TAITRA said.
“This year’s Computex exhibited not only PCs, but also wearable and Internet-connected devices,” Yeh said.
“The introduction of the new kinds of PCs is one of the major spotlights that attracted most of the visitors and buyers,” he added.
Yeh said a total of 59 companies showcased their latest wearable products at this year’s fair and about 300 firms exhibited products that are Internet-enabled.
At least 45 exhibitors chose the platform provided by Computex for new product launches.
PC vendor Acer Inc （宏碁） launched its first smartwatch, Liquid Leap, while chip designer MediaTek Inc （聯發科） unveiled its latest “Aster” system on chip for wearables.
Yeh said that TAITRA will invite more international buyers to next year’s Computex, which is scheduled to take place from June 2 through June 6 at the Taipei World Trade Center’s Exhibition Halls 1 and 3, the Nangang Exhibition Hall and the Taipei International Convention Center.
新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
