The trade between Taiwanese companies and those in the UAE has increased 67 per cent in year-on-year during the first half of 2010, said the Taiwan Trade Centre Dubai.

New contracts and greater economic cooperation will continue to see that number rise, according to the group, with exports and re-exports expected to reach nearly Dh550 million ($150 million) for IT hardware alone during 2011.

Direct trade between the two countries reached almost Dh3.6 billion last year, of which machinery and electronics equipment accounted for almost one third of the total sum. In free trade zones, an additional Dh1 billion of IT goods were traded between the two countries in 2009, far surpassing any other industrial or agricultural sector.

“Taiwanese products continue to play a major role in the UAE technology market with more and more local companies having the opportunity to establish links with these manufacturers of the future,” said Tom Tung-Chung Tseng, director at Taiwan Trade Centre Dubai.

“Such partnerships are supported by the events like this month’s GITEX 2010 exhibition, in which UAE companies will be able to view cutting-edge ICT products while forging business links with leading technology manufacturers.”

Being one of more than 50 overseas offices established by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (Taitra), Taiwan Trade Centre works to help Taiwanese manufacturers consolidate their position in emerging markets by arranging for foreign delegations to attend trade shows and fulfill regulatory requirements.

Michael YW Hsiao, manager at Taitra, said that the competitive nature of the UAE economy will continue to attract companies to the region—especially within the ICT industry.

“We are actually expecting a greater number of products being sent to the UAE during the second half of 2010 following events like the upcoming Gitex exhibition, where Taiwanese exports to UAE normally double compared to other months of the year,” Hsiao added. – TradeArabia News Service