Computex hailed a success before it starts

"FOR TRADE SHOWS this is a difficult year" said Walter Yeh, executive vice president of the quasi-official Taiwanese trade promotion outfit, Taitra, the day before Computex 2009 officially swings open its doors.

But despite the economic crisis, Yeh said the organisation had "reached our goal" both when it came to the number of participants attending the show and the number of booths. Indeed Taitra was boasting 1,700 exhibitors, 4,600 booths and a projected turnout of 100,000 visitors. "This result is acceptable," said Yeh, adding that the show promises to be "the size we expected."

Yeh waxed lyrical about Computex as the "most important ICT procurement show" in the world, adding that all the "key players" would be in attendance.

This year's focuses at Computex apparently will be Intel's beloved but probably tragically doomed Wimax and touch-screen technology, as well as netbooks, smartphones and emerging markets - with a side of swine flu fears, although Taitra is adament that there's no swine flu anywhere in Taiwan.

The Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Taipei Computer Association (TCA) are laying on the services thick this year, with Yeh boasting about not only the zippy free shuttle transport for participants but also translation services to boot.

The fact that mainland China will be sending a large delegation after an easing of tensions between the two countries was also something Yeh mentioned with evident pride.

With a purported two billion dollars worth of business opportunities to be had over the next five days, Taitra was keen to show the world that Computex will be standing strong despite the current economic "downturn".

After all, said Yeh, "Computex is a very important one-stop source." µ