BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - PROVIDING an opportunity to connect business and leverage markets for essential items for the private sector is one of the aims of the Second Annual Taiwan Business Trade Fair.
This year’s in-person event has been cancelled but the organisers are moving things to the digital realm, where local businesses can build connections and make purchases online directly from suppliers.
The Taiwanese are making this possible through a dedicated virtual online platform that showcases hundreds, if not thousands, of Taiwanese private entities from across all facets of business including health, manufacturing, agriculture and technology.
Tom Lee, Taiwan’s Resident Ambassador to St. Kitts and Nevis explained that the trade fair is geared towards bridging the gap and providing local businesses an opportunity to purchase quality supplies from the country’s closest ally.
The initiative seeks to provide businesses an opportunity to purchase supplies that are needed in the Federation. For example, in the agriculture sector; an idea that was the centerpiece of last year’s exhibition at the Agriculture Department Grounds.
“Starting from last year, our Embassy used this Agriculture Day to host a trade fair in order to further deepen our economic ties with St. Kitts and Nevis, as well as to showcase Taiwan’s excellent products to our friends,” the Ambassador said.
Currently, there are approximately 49,500 private sector entities within the Asian island, of which there are thousands of manufacturing companies established there.
Taiwan is known for its quality products and popular brands such as Asus, Acer, Transcend, Media and Synnex.
President of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Giselle Matthews underscored the importance of such a trade far to the business community and the way this year’s event is set up.
Matthews commended the organisers for reinventing this year’s fair to adapt to the changes of COVID-19 by going virtual, adding that “it also exhibits the fact that technology can be used in so many ways”.
“So, at the Chamber, what I think is exciting for us is that we can easily share the link with all of our members at the chamber. And they can have access to see the products that are available for possible import into St. Kitts,” Matthews added.
Fairs in the 22 participating member countries where there are Taiwanese Missions are participating - from Europe to the Caribbean to Asia down to the Pacific rim.
In welcoming the virtual trade fair, Minister of International Trade, Wendy Phipps commended Ambassador Lee and the Taiwanese officials for their continued support in developing St. Kitts and Nevis as well as the business community.
Minister Phipps, like Matthews, commended the Embassy for its versatility in hosting the event this year instead of having it cancelled due to the pandemic.
“The Taiwanese example of development is one for us to model for the development of small island states, such as ours,” she added.
Access to the fair's website will be up all year.
