Taipei, Dec. 29 (CNA) The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the Chunghwa Post Company will collaborate to launch an online platform that aims to be the "last mile" in helping local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reach international buyers.
TAITRA and Chunghwa announced Tuesday that they will launch a joint integrated service Jan. 1 that provides information flow, logistics and payment flow on a single online platform.
"With 80,000 members and over 1.2 million international buyers in the database, TAITRA's Web site will be able to integrate the services of Chunghwa Post, which has long been known for its logistics expertise and success to help Taiwan's SMEs, " said TAITRA Chairman Wang Chih-kang.
Wang noted that SMEs account for 98 percent of Taiwanese enterprises and have been the pillar of Taiwan's economy for decades, but most smaller companies have problems finding foreign buyers, especially in China.
With the platform, Chunghwa Post provides an express mail service network that covers 103 countries, a 10 percent to 25 percent mail delivery discount and an online payment service so businesses can cut down on their logistics expenses by using this one-stop shop, said Chunghwa Post Chairman Oliver Yu.
The service is expected to benefit Taiwanese businesses, especially to those trying to flex their muscles in China, since China-bound exports account for 40 percent of Taiwan's overall exports, Wang said.
The business-to-business platform will focus on the China market, he went on. The Taiwantrade Web site has launched a version in simplified Chinese and has worked with Taobao.com and Eachnet.com -- two of the largest online shopping Web sites in China -- to set up online accounts for Taiwanese companies.
After a nosedive in the second half of 2008 and the ensuing global crisis, Wang said, Taiwan's exports are on the way to recovery, with the total export value surpassing NT$20 billion in November -- the highest figure for the last 13 months.
"TAITRA's aim is to promote Taiwanese products and to assist Taiwanese businessmen to reach out to as many customers as possible," he added.