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The head of the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association (TBEA) has pronounced that the Taipei International Cycle Show is on course to overtake the US-set Interbike show.
A record-breaking 894 exhibitors were at the event, using 3,018 booths – 1,018 more booths than the Nangang Exhibition Centre officially has room for. Corridors and additional rooms were used for the extra booths and to handle the 50,000 visitors expected to appear at the show.
TBEA chairman Ying-Ming Yang said Taipei would overtake Interbike as the second biggest international cycle show, due in part to the poor health of the US economy, and to a strong Taiwan cycle industry.
He said: "We feel we’re able to compete, thanks to our R&D and branding efforts.”
Swelling membership of the Exporters Association led Yang to add: " I feel our industry is strong."
Kuo-Hsin Liang, vice minister of economic affairs, said that the country’s cycle industry was ready to compete with rivals closer to home – including China: “The Taiwan bicycle industry is not afraid of competition. We hope the whole world will reduce duties on bicycles to zero."
The Taipei show organiser said the Taiwan cycle industry remained strong during a tough year. Overall exports dropped 20 per cent in 2009, while complete bike shipments fell 9.9 per cent and parts exports slipped six per cent. The organisation put the industry’s relative strength down to growing investment in R&D and branding.
