| Prime News | | ![]() | ![]() | Cabinet Raises Building-Height Cap in Area South of Songshan Airport
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--The Executive Yuan (the Cabinet) announced yesterday (Nov. 7) raising the cap on building height in the area south of the Songshan Airport in Taipei to 90 meters, from original 60 meters, which is expected to stimulate the realty market in the area.
The area to benefit from the measure constitutes a belt zone, covering 1,198 hectares in space, with its northern border one kilometer from the middle line of the airport's runway and southern border three kilometers from the line. Building within the one-kilometer range will be still subject to the existing cap. Major beneficiaries will be new realty development projects or urban renewal projects, as their new buildings will be able to reach 30 stories, compared with some 20 stories now.
The belt zone lies between Jinzhou Street, between Minquan East Road and Minsheng East Road, in the north and Zhongxiao East Road in the south, with the eastern border reaching Danshui river and the western border the train yard between Songshan and Nangang railway stations.
Buildings in the area, however, are still subject to the floor-area ratio restriction, as a result of which developers may have to purchase floor-area quota of historical sites or obtain floor-area bonus from constructing public facilities, such as public parking lots.
Chang Kuo-cheng, director general of Civil Aeronautics Administration, under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, noted that the new measure will not affect flight safety, flight route, airplane types, and flight frequencies of the Songshan Airport, as the existing flight route, revised following the construction of Taipei 101, doesn't pass through the affected area.
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| | ![]() | | | U.S. Subprime Mortgage Storm Battering Taiwan's MBS Marketg
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--The U.S. subprime housing-loan storm appears to be battering Taiwan's fledgling MBS (mortgage-based securities) market, as many domestic banks are adopting a wait-and-see attitude toward issuing such financial products, due to the lukewarm market response, said Hsu Chien-chi, president of Chinatrust Financial Holding, yesterday (Nov. 7).
Hsu noted that with spread of the effect of the subprime housing-loan storm, many clients are anxious to exit the housing-mortgage market, as a result of which banks may have difficulty finding buyers for their MBS, even if they offer interest rates with 0.5-percentage point markup on commercial-paper rates. By comparison, markup for Chinatrust's MBS issued in 2004 was only 0.2 percentage point.
Consequently, domestic banks are apparently slowing down their pace in MBS issuance. Union Bank and E. Sun Bank, for instance, have applied with the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) for issuing NT$20 billion and NT$10 billion worth of MBS, respectively, but have yet to issue the products up to now.
Sunny Bank expressed that it may not be able to issue its MBS, whose scale has been cut from NT$15 billion to NT$10 billion, via assistance of Lehman Brothers by the end of this year.
Taiwan Cooperative Bank and Taishin Bank may not be able to carry out the projects of issuing NT$15 billion and NT$12 billion worth of MBS, respectively, within this year, either.
Banking insiders noted that following the outbreak of the U.S. subprime mortgage storm, ratings companies have lower ratings of related products, forcing MBS issuers to raise their interest rates.
In addition, under current situation issuing banks have to exclude subordinated housing loans from the assets pool of MBS in order to boost their appeal, as a result of which MBS issuance cannot lower the level of their risk assets and boost their capital adequacy ratio, greatly reducing significance of MBS issuance for the banks.
Meanwhile, Hsu Chien-chi warned that there exists potential danger for outbreak of a housing-loan storm in Taiwan, similar to that of the U.S. subprime mortgage storm. He noted that default rate for high-risk housing loans in Taiwan has reached 12-13% in Taiwan, compared with 10-16% of the U.S. subprime housing loans. Mounting housing-loan default cases is especially ominous for Taiwan, as its outstanding housing loans now equal 45% of the gross domestic product, the third highest worldwide, trailing South Korea with 65% and the United Kingdom with 56%.
High-percentage housing loans issued by banks during heydays of the local realty market in 2004-2006 contain especially high risks, due to banks' reckless policy in promoting housing-loan business, according to Hsu.
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| | ![]() | | | J-Power of Japan Allies With Asia Cement to Build Long Feng Power Plant
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--Taichung Harbor Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications recently approved the Long Feng thermal power plant investment project launched by J-Power Co., a Japanese power-generation concern. The Japanese concern plans to cooperate with Asia Cement Corporation to complete the NT$95 billion investment project.
According to J-Power's preliminary plan, the proposed thermal power plant will start to undergo construction in the middle of next year and go online commercially in June 2011 at the earliest.
If everything goes smoothly, the Long Feng will be the largest private-sector investment project ever seen in the Taichung Harbor region in recent years.
Lee Lung-wen, director of Taichung Harbor Bureau, said the investment project is launched in accordance with the Article No.46 of the Statute for Encouragement of Private Participation in Infrastructure Projects. He said his bureau will do whatever necessary to help materialize the investment plan by setting up an ad hoc committee to proceed second-phase screening on the project after J-Power submits solid investment plan.
The proposed Long Feng power plant will be situated on the site of 80 hectares near the state-run Taiwan Power Co.'s Taichung coal-fired power plant. J-Power will install two 700,000-kilowatt base-load coal-fired generating units in the power plant. The company noted it would adopt the most advanced "ultra critical" technology to minimize the emission of pollutants. The plant will see total installed generation capacity reach 1.4 million kilowatts.
To promote the construction of the proposed Long Feng thermal power plant, J-Power is working with Taiwan Conveyor Machinery Co. to establish a preparatory office for the joint-venture Long Feng Power Co. in Taipei, northern Taiwan. Taiwan Conveyor Machinery said it would cooperate with J-Power to explore domestic wind-power generation market. The joint venture will invest NT$4 billion (US$123.45 million at US$1:NT$32.4) to establish wind fields somewhere in Taoyuan and Hsinchu counties of northern Taiwan, and Pingtung County of southern Taiwan.
Founded over 50 years ago, J-Power is Japan's largest hydro and thermal power generation concern. Over the past few years, the company has been making investments in Southeast Asian nations, Taiwan, and mainland China.
In 2003, J-Power invested approximately NT$2 billion (US$61.72 million) to acquire a 40% stake in Chiahui Power Plant from Asia Cement. The Chiahui Power Plant began commercial operations at the end of 2003. With total investment of NT$14.1 billion (US$435.18 million), Chiahui Power Plant, fired by natural gas, has an installed generation capacity of 670,000 kilowatts. The successful investment experience in Chiahui has encouraged J-Power to expand investments in Taiwan.
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| | ![]() | | | CPC Glides to Successful Landing in Mainland China
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--CPC Corporation, Taiwan has recently succeeded in tapping mainland China market by cooperating with the Beijing-based Guangda Co. to sell its Mirage-branded grease in that lucrative market.
CPC, Taiwan's state-run oil refinery, said it would expand its market share of mainland China's grease market through distributors and automobile repair companies there.
As early as a decade ago, CPC had been making concrete plans to invest in the mainland, including oil refining, naphtha-cracking plants, and petrochemical middle- and downstream plants. But its massive investment plans have been stalled by Taiwan's strict, conservative mainland policies. A CPC executive said the cooperation with Guangda is a good beginning for his company to tap the fast-growing mainland market.
CPC is keeping low profile in commenting on the cooperation with Guangda, saying the cooperation has been initiated by Taiwan Mirage Co., which is the exclusive agent for Mirage-branded grease, with CPC saying that it would sell such product to the mainland through Taiwan Mirage.
A CPC executive noted that the mainland grease market is 10 times that of Taiwan as the former has an annual consumption totaling two million metric tons while Taiwan can absorb only 200,000 metric tons.
CPC's grease unit said the distribution of Mirage lubricants will focus on the northern part of the China market in the early stage and then expand to eastern, southern region, and Chongqing of the western region.
As Guangda has close cooperative relations with mainland's automobile repair and maintenance stores, CPC hopes its cooperation with Guangda will help it develop some potential customers there.
At present, the mainland is rated as the world's second-largest consumption market for lubricants with 70% dominated by European and the U.S. brands. Recently, mainland's Sinopec (China Petroleum and Chemical Co.) and CNPC (China National Petroleum Corp.) have been striving to tap the lucrative market. Even so, other brands in this field are feverishly exploring that market.
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| | ![]() | | | MediaTek Acquires K-Will to Enhance Video Technology Deployment
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--MediaTek Inc. recently announced its acquisition of a controlling 69.1% stake in KDDI Media Will (K-Will) of Japan, which specializes in video software and compression technology, for an undisclosed price.
K-Will began in 1999 in Japan and opened U.S. branch in 2003. It was formerly a research and development unit of Japanese telecom carrier KDDI.
Industry watchers pointed out the acquisition will help beef up MediaTek's muscle in global media market. So far, the Taiwanese fabless house has got involved in production of chips for digital televisions, global positioning systems (GPSs) and digital still cameras.
K-Will's patented Video DNA technology will enable MediaTek to integrate GPS and digital TV technologies with digital camera technology. Also, its technology is conducive to MediaTek's plan to enter into the industry of chips for blue-ray DVD players.
Industry watchers noted that MediaTek has made international acquisition part of its strategies to sharpen competitiveness in face of paramount rivals like Texas Instruments (TI), NXP Semiconductor, STMicroelectronics, and Trident.
It has acquired NuCore of Japan and taken over NuCore's customers of digital-camera chips including Matsushita and Pentax. Also, MediaTek's digital-TV chips have gone into the televisions from Samsung and Philips, and its GPS chips have forced into supply chains of some big-name GPS players.
MediaTek opened a branch, a research and development facility and a sales outlet in Japan in September this year as part of its plan to boost market share of its chips for digital cameras, GPS, high-definition TVs, and blue-ray DVD recorder/player in the top Asian economy. MediaTek Chairman M.K. Tsia said his company has landed orders for its DVD-player chips from Sony.
MediaTek, currently Taiwan's No.1 chip design house, plans to begin placing emphasis on sales in Japan next year. Industry watchers believed the acquisitions of NuCore and K-Will will help MediaTek gain market shares in Japan soon.
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| | ![]() | | | PSC's Huang Heads Taiwan Digital Industry Association
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--Over 100 hi-tech enterprises in Taiwan yesterday celebrated the establishment of Taiwan Digital Industry Association (TDIA) and elected Frank Huang, concurrent chairman of PowerChip Semiconductor Corp. (PSC) and the Taipei Computer Association, chairman of the new industry association.
Huang pointed out that the idea of setting up the association was raised by Acer Group founder Stain Shih when he was chairman of the computer association in light of the lack of an association representing information-technology manufacturers across the island. The Taipei Computer Association (TCA), however, can represent only manufacturers in Taipei, as its name suggests.
Huang stressed that TDIA and TCA will work together rather than fight against each other in all respects. For instance, the two organizations will very likely co-organize the high-profile computer trade shows Computex in Taipei and e-MEX in Suzhou.
So far, the association has nearly 100 members including MediaTek, PSC, Advanced Semiconductor Engineering (ASE), Acer, MiTAC International, Chunghwa Telecom, IBM Taiwan, HP Taiwan, Intel Taiwan and Microsoft Taiwan. They represent electronics, telecommunications, software, and service industrial segments.
Huang stressed that the new association will not stress the number of its members but the representation of Taiwan's hi-tech industrial segments. Based on the idea, the new association may recruit institutional members like TCA, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Institute for Information Industry (III), and Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association.
Huang's chairmanship in TCA will expire next month and he is not eligible to compete for the post at the association since he has held the position for two consecutive terms including the current one. He position in TDIA is considered to be his new stage after leaving TCA, industry watchers said.
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| | ![]() | | | Delta Introduces Advanced LED Backlight, LED Lighting Modules
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--Delta Electronics Inc., a major EMS (electronics manufacturing services) provider and light-emitting diode (LED) maker of Taiwan, recently announced that it has developed advanced LED backlight module and LED lighting module (for indoor illumination applications).
Industry sources said that Delta has targeted to invest in a LED and solar-cell product maker so as to more efficiently set up deployment in LED related fields. Delta, in fact, announced in July that it plans to acquire or invest in a downstream LED packaging company, while the company's senior managers said that the strategic alliance project has entered into the final stage.
According to Delta, its latest LED backlight module products features power-saving, good heat dissipation performance, a wide color-spectrum range, and could reduced the number of LEDs used in a module. The company has developed such product for 32-, 40-, and 42-inch thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) TV panel applications.
Delta's LED lighting modules can cover a very wide indoor illumination application range, including floor, reading, and wall lamps.
These two new product series, Delta claimed, have marked the company's formal entry into the general LED lighting market.
Roland Chiang, director of Delta's advanced lighting business department said that his company cooperated with local Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to develop the said advanced LED application products. "Delta already had a solid foundation in the fields of backlight modules, key components, and lighting, and the partnership with the Material and Chemical Research Laboratories of ITRI has provided a number of patents which apply to lighting.
Chiang added that the cooperation tie with ITRI has added the new LED backlight module products to Delta's green energy product roadmap and furthered Delta's mission in the promotion of energy-saving and environmental protection.
He also added that the LED backlight module could be applied to many products including cellphones, large outdoor signboards, and lighting fixtures for both interior and exterior applications. LED backlight module has the advantages of high power efficiency, good heat-dissipation performance, and substantial reduction of power consumption, Chiang said, in addition, Delta has design-in capabilities for both hybrid LED backlight modules and full LED backlight modules for TFT-LCD TVs.
Compared to traditional cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) counterparts, he explained, hybrid LED backlight modules have several advantages, including increasing red-light purity and brightness; upgrading the National Television System Committee (NTSC) color gamut by 5% and contrast ratio by 44%; and decreasing loss of light due to LCD panel color filter. The advantages of full LED backlight modules include the triangular arrangement built on the printed circuit board (PCB), which greatly reduces the number of LEDs used by 10%. Other advantages include brightness uniformity of 90%, an NTSC color spectrum of 100%, and much better contrast ratio.
Delta displayed the latest LED products at the just-ended FPD International show in Yokohama of Japan and received popular response from global visitors.
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| | ![]() | | | Chunghwa Telecom Leads in Paying Biz Tax in Taiwan in First 9 Months
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--Taiwan's 22 listed enterprises, each boasting profits of more than 10 billion (US$303.03 million at US$1 = NT$33), paid a total of NT$77 billion (US$2.33 billion) business taxes in the first three quarters of this year. Among them 12 paid taxes of more than NT$2 billion (US$60.61 million) each and Chunghwa Telecom Co. led with NT$10.2 billion (US$309.09 million), the only company in Taiwan paying more than 10 billion (US$303.03 million) in taxes.
In the same period, the four enterprises of Formosa Group, namely, Formosa Petrochemical Corp., Nan Ya Formosa Plastics Corp., Formosa Chemical & Fibre Corp. (FCFC), and Formosa Plastics Corp., together paid taxes totaling NT$17.747 billion (US$537.79 million), the highest among Taiwan's conglomerates.
Formosa Petrochemical paid the lion's share of NT$8.727 billion (US$264.45 million), next only to Chunghwa; and the other three affiliates—Nan Ya, FCFC, and Formosa Plastics—accounted for NT$3.939 billion (US$119.36 million), NT$2.987 billion (US$90.52 million), and NT$2.094 billion (US$63.45 million), respectively. The tax rates of the Group's companies ranged from 5.38% to 14.52%.
In the same period, Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co. was the third largest corporate taxpayer, who paid NT$8.373 billion (US$253.73 million); and China Steel Corp. closely followed with NT$8.361 billion (US$253.36 million). The tax rate for the former was 14.07% and for the latter 17.91%.
As a leading wafer maker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) used to take the advantage of tax rebates offered by the government to promote the industry. Nevertheless, the company paid evidently sizable taxes last year and in the first nine months of this year its taxes paid reached NT$6.996 billion (US$212 million), based on the tax rate of 8.56%, taking fifth on the list of Taiwan's high taxpayers. During the period, TSMC gained profits of NT$81.7 billion (US$2.48 billion), the highest among the companies here.
Other companies with paid taxes of over NT$2 billion (US$60.61 million) in the first nine months were in sequence Asustek Computer Inc., with NT$4.121 billion (US$124.88 million) and tax rate of 16.39%; Taiwan Cellular Corp., NT$3.348 billion (US$101.45 million) and 22.21%; Quanta Computer Inc., NT$3.114 billion (US$94.36 million) and 19.47%; and High-Tech Computer Corp., NT$2.336 billion (US$70.79 million) and 10.98%.
From Jan. to Sept., those who secured a spot in the "10 Billion Profit" club included United Microelectronics Corp., Delta Electronics Inc., Compal Electronics Inc., Siliconware Precision Industries Co., AU Optronics Corp., MediaTek Inc., Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp., Innolux Display Corp., Far Eastone Telecommunications Co., and Acer Inc., in addition to the above-mentioned enterprises.
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| | ![]() | | | Taiwan's 13 Domestic Banks May Lose NT$4 B. via SIV
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--Among Taiwan's 39 domestic banks, 13 invested in special investment vehicles (SIV) totaling NT$21.8 billion (US$660.61 million at US$1 = NT$33) as of the end of October, with estimated loss of NT$4 billion (US$121.12 million), according to the investigation done by Cabinet-level Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC).
Of the 13 banks, Bank SinoPac, an affiliate of SinoPac Financial Holding Co., recorded the largest investment of NT$11.3 billion (US$342.42 million) in SIV and the bank was reportedly to set aside NT$2.3 billion (US$69.7 million) as provisions against the possible loss from the investment in the sector.
By the end of September, the number of domestic banks who had invested in the U.S. sub-prime mortgages increased to 21 from 16 posted early in August, with total investment expanding to NT$56.3 billion (US$1.71 billion) from NT$40.4 billion (US$1.22 billion). FSC indicated that the banks might suffer total loss of more than NT$3 billion (US$90.91 million) from such investment.
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| | ![]() | | | Acer Overtakes ASUS in NB PC Sales in Taiwan
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--Acer Inc. overtook ASUSTeK Computer Inc. in sales of notebook PCs in the third quarter of this year, returning to the first place in Taiwan, according to company sources.
Scott Lin, president of Acer's Taiwan operations, said that along with excellent product and marketing strategies and sound distribution channels, Acer finally beat ASUS to lead the market. Backed by competitiveness in achieving economy-of-scale, Acer is expected to further score a minimal growth rate of 30% in its sales in Taiwan next year.
Although market survey institutes have yet to release the latest reports about the top two brands of notebook PC in Taiwan, Wang Jeng-tang, chairman of Acer, and Lin have assured that Acer has already outdone ASUS as the largest brand on the island in the third quarter.
Over the past years, the big two brands have engaged in fierce competition in the Taiwanese market for notebook PCs, with ASUS having occupied the first place in the market for a long time. However, after unseating ASUS in sales of notebook PCs in the third quarter of this year, Acer, also with the strongest sales of desktop models in Taiwan, will certainly hold its leading position in Taiwan's PC market.
In terms of the impact from ASUS's newly launched budget-priced EeePC, Lin said that Acer actually feared the move at first; nevertheless, Acer now has been relieved with respect to previously assumed fears.
Lin conceded that if the EeePC had been launched five years earlier, the machine would have been a successful product. But, the machine does not offer cutting-edge features in the present PC market due to the ultra-low price that limits its functions. Such predicament makes Acer confident that EeePC won't affect its brand anymore.
Acer is very good at marketing with sports figures, already scheduling to invite Taiwan's most renowned athlete to promote its notebook PCs on Nov. 11, when the brand will also debut its first 6.5-liter desktop model, which has a 24-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screen priced at only NT$14,900, to tap business potential in Taiwan in December.
Also, Lin said that Acer and Tatung Co., have jointly won a big order for 6,000 units of desktop PCs worth of more than NT$100 million. It means Acer's 3-liter desktop models are well-received.
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| | ![]() | | | HTC Records New High of NT$13.1 B. in Oct. Revenue
Taipei, Nov. 8, 2007 (CENS)--The Taiwan-based High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC), a world-caliber supplier of electronics products, recorded a historical high of NT$13.1 billion in sales revenue in October, according to company sources.
HTC has been recently focusing on its move to join a new platform Android developed by Google, and is expected to deliver up to one million units of mobile phones based on the platform next year, which will account for 8% of its total shipment and will be significant to HTC, according to Morgan Stanley.
HTC reported higher-than-expected sales revenue of NT$13.1 billion for October, up 24.2% from September and 22.28% from last October, and aggregate revenue of NT$92.67 billion for the first ten months of this year, for an annual growth of 6.43%. Such performance makes foreign investors look at the company with considerable favor.
Based on an estimated annual growth of 20% in revenue for the fourth quarter of this year, HTC will probably score fourth-quarter revenue of more than NT$36 billion, most likely to challenge annual revenue of NT$110 billion, or even NT$120 billion.
On the other hand, according to Goldman Sachs, HTC's move to join Google's Android platform suggests that, endorsed by NTT DoCoMo and Telecom Italia Group, Google has overcome a threshold into the wireless communications sector, and that HTC, one of the members in the Open Handset Alliance (OHA) with considerable experience in developing related handsets, will become a major partner for large-sized telecom companies, who want to venture into offering services on Google's platform.
In fact, HTC has succeeded in developing hot-selling handsets built with Microsoft's operating systems, already reaping considerable profits in the sector. Thus, if able to effectively install its handsets on Google's platform, HTC will be capable of providing more software applications. Also, HTC, as Taiwan's first approved member of OHA, will therefore more effectively broaden a competitive gap between itself and rivals.
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| | ![]() | | | IAF Annual Convention in Taipei Talks Shop and Promotes Fashion Design
By BEN SHEN
The 23rd IAF World Apparel Convention, hosted by the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF), took place in Taipei, Taiwan from Oct. 24-26, 2007 and saw more than 300 local and foreign representatives in attendance at the annual event. With the invitations from TTF and IAF (International Apparel Federation), President Chen Shui-bian delivered a speech at the grand opening ceremony on Oct. 25 at the Taipei International Convention Centre.
Adding an air of optimism, President Chen said that the textile industry, despite being a traditional trade and often seen as passé, is definitely not a "sunset industry" by pointing to the outstanding performance by domestic textile firms as Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation, Far Eastern Textile Corporation, and Makalot Industrial Co., Ltd.
This year, apparel specialists and apparel-related organizations focused discussions on the main theme "Asia: Emerging Consumer Market From a Global Production Base," while leading specialists from the apparel supply chain were invited to share their insights regarding production, management performance, the impact of high tech innovations, and trends in trade and production.
The IAF, founded in 1976, is a confederation of apparel business associations worldwide, with its membership consisting of apparel associations from 33 countries representing over 150,000 apparel companies and over five-million employees. IAF's mission is to develop business contacts for the advancement of the global apparel industry.
Attendees of the 23rd IAF World Apparel Convention included chairmen, chief executive officers, presidents, vice presidents, directors, entrepreneurs, executives, managers, experts and trade professionals from the apparel industry, designers and brand managers; suppliers of products and services supporting the fashion industry; consulting firms; academies specializing in the fashion industry; national apparel associations and government officials involved in planning for their country's apparel industries.
Marjorie Yang, chairman of Esquel Group, was invited to speak at the forum. Esquel Group is one of the world's leading producers of premium cotton shirts and is among the most dynamic and progressive global-scale textile and apparel manufacturers, with production facilities in mainland China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Mauritius and Sri Lanka, and a network of branches servicing key markets worldwide.
The forum contained a four-topic program that is summarized below.
Session I: Trade Liberalization vs. Barriers
Elimination of the quota system has brought increased trade liberalization. Retailers and their suppliers have already built up their global manufacturing network as well logistic systems to target the new era of international textile and apparel trade opportunities. Enterprises from the East and West will need to strengthen their business competitiveness rather than rely on quota production as they have done in the past. However, some nations and regions have developed new barriers to restrict competition from other countries. Industrialists from both the supply and demand sides are concerned about whether or not it is a stable business environment for free trade.
Session II: Asia Market: Risks & Opportunities
Apparel makers from Asia are major suppliers to the global market and have helped improve the Asian economy. Nowadays, more and more Asian countries represent significant consumer markets based on their consumers' purchasing capability. New investors are taking an interest in Asian retailing, but business risks need to be well managed.
Session III: Capacity Growth vs. Profitability
In the last decade, capacities of spinning, weaving and apparel making have grown a lot, especially in Asian countries. Business leaders in the apparel world worry about the issue of oversupply, which also results in price competition among suppliers everywhere around the world. Many retailers plan to relocate their sourcing bases, and many countries, therefore, are very concerned about job opportunities. Suppliers try everything they can to keep their clients, even as their business profitability diminishes.
Session IV: Technology Development and Its Application to Production and Marketing
Technology development has had a huge impact on the apparel industry thanks to its application in such areas as management performance, product development, marketing and many other areas. It is no doubt a key determinant of the competitiveness of multinational companies.
Promoting Fashion Design
During the IAF World Apparel Convention, TTF also hosted the exclusive and unprecedented IAF International Designer Award on the evening of Oct. 25. The designer award aims to promote fashion design globally and emphasizes the role of IAF in the world apparel industry. For the first time in IAF history, this event was launched as a runway fashion show, with the National Palace Museum in the background.
Representative designers from 133 countries, including Colombia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey and Vietnam, participated in the designer award. Liesbeth in't Hout, dean of the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI) acted as the chief of the judging panel.
Following the convention in Taipei, IAF sponsored a study tour for its members to visit apparel factories in the region's fastest growing countries, Vietnam and Cambodia, with the aim of the study tour being to share experiences between those in the international apparel-manufacturing network with convention delegates and to explore business opportunities in the region.
The IAF World Apparel Convention was held in parallel with the 2007 Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS 2007), which is held annually in Taipei. It has been rebranded with the concept of "F5- from Fibers to Fabrics for Fashion plus Functions + Full package services." The event showcased the functional and fashionable features of high-value-added yearns and fabrics, mostly from Taiwan and other Asian countries, which have already made TITAS one of the most eye-catching platforms for total sourcing solutions in the Asian region. Approximately 350 domestic and international companies occupying 550 booths participated in this year's exhibition. | |
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