TAITRA launches TMP project to solicit foreign machinery buyers

Taipei, March 18, 2005 (CENS)--With its successful execution of the Taiwan Machinery Promotion (TMP) project, the semi-official Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) has invited 50-strong machinery distributors from 11 nations to procure locally made machines at the ongoing Taipei International Machine Tool Show (TIMTOS).

TIMTOS, one of the world's leading exhibitions of its kind, kicked off on March 15 and will run through March 20 at the Taipei World Trade Center. According to a preliminary survey prepared by the TAITRA, the 50-strong foreign distributors will procure approximately US$30 million worth of domestically made machine tools and accessories at the show.

TAITRA said many foreign distributors from South Korea, India, Germany, Mexico, and Argentina, were procuring, for the first time ever, Taiwan-made machine tools through the TMP project. The TMP scored significant achievements as it attracted the participation of nine distributors from South Korea, which is viewed as Taiwan's major competitor in the machine-tool sector.

A high-ranking TAITRA official noted the TMP project, inaugurated a few years ago, has made substantial achievements in helping domestic manufacturers boost overseas sales.

C.C. Sun, head of TAITRA's machinery procurement services section, said there were 19 foreign machinery distributors from Turkey, Brazil, Canada, Poland and Vietnam participating in the TMP project and procuring US$55.82 million worth of machinery products from Taiwan last year. But the procurements should increase to US$75.1 million if follow-up orders are included.

On March 15, the first exhibition day of the TIMTOS, a total of 14 foreign distributors from Brazil, United Arab Emirate, Germany, Poland, Italy, Mexico, and Argentina, participated in business talks with domestic manufacturers.

Atlas Co. and Vitor & Buono Co. of Brazil, both participating in the TMP project, said they would procure Taiwan-made lathes, presses, grinding machines, sewing machines, and drilling machines at the TIMTOS. Atlas estimated it would procure US$2 million worth of domestically made machine tools and Vitor & Buono, US$3 million, this year.

SIMCO of UAE said it planned to procure US$10 million worth of Taiwan-made machinery this year. Another UAE distributor LAROSA Hardware said it has purchased metal pipe-bending machines from Taiwan last year and would expand procurement items to include shearing machines, lathes, drilling machines and presses this year.

APX Co. and Abplanalp Co. of Poland will buy US$3 million and US$10 million worth of Taiwan-made machines this year. APX focuses on lathes and machining centers, and Abplanalp is one of Poland's top-three distributors of a wide range of machinery.

TATRA said Abplanalp has been gradually replacing its European product lines with Taiwan-made ones after it concluded a deal with a domestic manufacturer of plastic injection molding machines last year.