TARTRA Tapping Gray-Hair Market in N. Europe

Taipei, June 21, 2006 (CENS)--To tap the gray-hair market in North Europe, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the government-funded trade promotion organization, has recently organized a delegation to explore the markets in the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden.

The delegation is composed of more than 20 domestic firms in such industries as health food, health care, medical equipment, and pharmaceuticals, etc. Among them are Pacific Cycles Inc., a professional moped maker; Comfort Orthopedic Co., a dynamic producer of handicap electric scooters; Kingly Star Technology Co., a leading message chair maker; and Maxtek Go-Go Co., a heater blanket manufacturer. The delegation already set off on June 10 for a two-week visit to the above-mentioned countries, TAITRA disclosed.

TAITRA believed that it's right time now to explore the market for the elderly since the aged population is expanding rapidly, particularly in such advanced countries as the United States, Japan, and the nations in western and northern Europe. The ratio of the aged people in the U.S. and Japan already hit a high of over 20%, and therefore the market niche for products for the elderly is considerable for the two countries.

TAITRA also saw great market potential in western and northern European countries and North Europe, since the people there are noted for longevity and granted good social welfare by their governments. In addition to the delegation to Nordic Europe this month, TAITRA will lead another similar trade promotion group to Japan in July.

The annual market demand for products for the aged consumers is growing significantly and is expected to soar to US$37.38 trillion in 2025. The products needed mainly include health food, medical equipment, patent drugs for chronic diseases, and health-care devices, among others.