The rise of the Middle East

The growing financial clout of the Middle Eastern states is becoming more and more noticeable at international trade shows. The latest example of this is the Taiwan Hardware Show (THS). More than one exhibitor was aware of the shift in the visitor statistics.
Jack Lai of Jaco International Corporation, for example, summed up the show as follows: "Previously the customers mostly came from Europe and America. Now there are increasing numbers coming from Middle East, making the visitor pool at THS more diverse, especially from Iran since its market is opening." Arthur Hsiao of Puma Industrial Co. Ltd. also noted that "through this exhibition we can get many orders from the Middle East and other parts of the world".
However, it was not only the Middle East that spawned more visitors to the 17th edition of the Taiwan Hardware Show from 11 to 13 October 2017. The show reached an all-time high record with a three per cent increase in visitor numbers to 30 889 visitors from 85 countries. The number of exhibitors remained virtually the same at 409 (2016: 403), occupying 16 524 m² of exhibition space in the new exhibition hall at the Greater Taichung International Expo Center.

Commenting on the exhibition's record-breaking achievements, Gerd Keim, president of the organising company Kaigo Co. Ltd, said "we have surpassed our own targets this year and are proud that our exhibitors and visitors have also achieved their participation and sourcing objectives. THS will continue to deliver quality results to the industry and be at the forefront to further promote Taiwan's hardware manufacturing industry's strength to global markets and buyers."
The 18th edition of the Taiwan Hardware Show will take place from 17 to 19 October 2018, again in Taichung.