Taipei, Dec. 2 (CNA) As thousands pack the exhibition hall for the 2006 Information Technology (IT) Month, Taiwan can look back at the past year and forward to the future with a sense of accomplishment, organizers and officials said Saturday.
"Entering its 27th year, IT Month has become the most compelling and significant year-end event for Taiwan's IT industry and consumers. We estimate more than two million visitors will visit the fair this year, " said Frank Huang, president of the Taipei Computer Association, IT Month's main organizer.
About 350 companies set up more than 1,700 booths at the fair, which is taking place in Taipei from Dec. 2-10, and will head south for shows in Taichung Dec. 15-20, Tainan Dec. 28-Jan. 2 and Kaohsiung Jan. 11-16, 2007.
While consumers care most about cheap computer prices, the fair also provides Taiwan's IT industry a chance to look back retrospectively as well as consider future prospects.
And the results are not disappointing. Despite all the theories of economic "hollowing out" in news reports, Taiwanese companies have been doing well in global markets, manufacturing more than 98 percent of computer motherboards and controlling the manufacture of about 87 percent of laptop computers, said Minister of Economic Affairs Chen Ruey-long.
Taiwan's brand development and industrial design has received much positive feedback over the past year, winning 146 international industrial design awards and boosting Taiwan's confidence in its value-added efforts. Taiwan has been doing well in foundry, packaging tests, and flat panel sectors as well, Chen added.
However Taiwan will be facing challenges in the upcoming year.
"We'll see a lot of changes in the upcoming year, with the launch of a new Microsoft computer system, Vista, and emerging development of 3G mobile phones, " said Frank Huang, adding that Taiwan needs to devote more energy to digital content development to catch up with South Korea.
"Without a doubt, the IT and digital industries will be Taiwan's lifelines in the future," Huang said.