Record Turnout Expected For Taipei AMPA 2005

The 21st Taipei Int'l Auto/Motorcycle Parts & Accessories Show 2005 (Taipei AMPA 2005)' the largest auto/motorcycle parts and accessory show in Asia and considered among the top three in the world' will be held、 on May 13-16 in Taipei. Organizers say that the show will be the biggest ever' in terms of both number of exhibitors and number of booths.

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA' formerly China External Trade Development Council--CETRA)' Taiwan Transportation Vehicle Manufacturers' Association (TTVMA) and Taiwan Rubber Industries Association (TRIA) are co-organizing the 2005 show. According to TAITRA' AMPA 2005 will attract about 850 exhibitors and feature around 2'200 booths' up from 827 exhibitors and 2'170 booths in 2004. These numbers represent the maximum exhibition capacity at the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC).

Taipei AMPA project manager Judy Lo points out that the annual show has long been the largest auto/motorcycle parts event in the Asia-Pacific region and has been playing a key regional-hub role as an integrated transaction platform for buyers and exhibitors worldwide. "Most exhibitors and industry professionals consider Taipei AMPA to be one of the world's top-three fairs in the field'" adds AMPA marketing manager Christie Huang' "Especially in terms of its specialization in auto/motorcycle parts and accessories."


Filling Out


According to Huang' exhibitor turnout at Taipei AMPA 2004 was up 41% from 2002 (the 2003 show was cancelled due to the SARS outbreak). Over 5'000 registered foreign buyers visited the show during last year's event' up about 29% from the previous session' while general attendance outstripped 20'000 people. This year' Huang says' the show is expected to attract over 6'000 foreign buyers and a total of 27'000 visitors.

In order to accommodate its rapid growth' the venue for Taipei AMPA 2005 will cover the main floor at the TWTC Exhibition Hall 1 and the newly expanded show floor on the second level ("Area H")' in addition to the new Exhibition Hall 3 nearby.

Huang says Taipei AMPA 2005 will serve as one of the best one-stop sourcing centers for automobile and motorcycle parts and accessories' joining both leading-edge and nuts-and-bolts items at one venue. Everything from complete engines' parts and accessories' power trains' tires and tubes and brakes to lights and signals' finished motorcycles' and auto/motorcycle frames can be found at the fair. Major trade-media groups will also have booths at the event.

At a time when other major trade shows in Taiwan are losing business to counterpart events in mainland China' Huang says that Taipei AMPA has been expanding rapidly in the past few years. "The growing number of pre-registered foreign buyers indicates how important Taipei AMPA has become as a sourcing hub in this line'" Huang says.

According to TAITRA' the foreign buyers at the 2004 event came mostly from Asia (about 60%). The rest were from North America' Europe' the Middle East' Oceania' Latin America' and Africa. Japanese buyers topped the list' accounting for over 20% of the total foreign-buyer turnout.

According to buyer feedback' Taipei AMPA's leading role in Asia will not be easily challenged by rival shows in mainland China or even Automechanika Asia in Thailand' which was launched three years ago' Huang predicts.

Taipei AMPA2005 is also attracting more and more big local makers with international brand reputations' says Lo. In the past' most of the leading companies in Taiwan were absent from the fair due to the limited exhibition space' she explains' but the expanded venue and rising prominence of the fair is now drawing their attention.


Customer Satisfaction


TAITRA has been working hard to upgrade the services it provides to buyers and exhibitors at Taipei AMPA' says Lo. This year' the show marketing manager claims' TAITRA will continue offering an NT$2'000 (US$62 at US$1:NT$32.4) hotel discount coupon for the first 700 registered foreign buyers' redeemable at around 20 hotels near the TWTC. It will also set up four new business centers at the show to provide free e-mail and fax services as well as drinks and desserts. Additional shuttle buses will run to bus stops and MRT stations. The Taipei City Government has also agreed to provide free one-day and half-day city tours for foreign buyers and exhibitors' according to Huang.

Another important service is the "make an appointment" function in the "Exhibitor Search" section of the official Taipei AMPA website (www.taipeitradeshows.com.tw/ampa). This service makes it easy for foreign buyers to set up appointments with targeted exhibitors.

For further information on Taipei AMPA 2005' please contact the show organizer: Ms. Judy Lo' Project Manager' e-mail: ampa@cetra.org.tw; or Ms. Christie Huang' Marketing Manager' e-mail: christie@cetra.org.tw; Tel: 886-2-2725-5200' ext: 2612' 2615; Fax: 886-2-2725-1959. (Jan. 2005)