2023 Taiwan Expo Japan, the highest-profile Taiwan-Japan economic and trade exchange event in history, successfully concluded on November 11 in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Under the guidance of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs and organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the exhibition attracted over 20,000 visitors over three days and facilitated business opportunities worth USD85 million.

Held in Japan for the first time, the Taiwan Expo was themed Smart and Sustainable Vision for Life. Unlike traditional exhibitions, it incorporated aspects of daily life, including food, clothing, housing, transportation, entertainment, and healthcare, plus showcased Taiwanese technologies and products related to digital transformation (DX) and green transformation (GX) in a scenario-based manner. The exhibition also featured Taiwanese snacks and souvenirs, with a total of 135 Taiwanese companies participating. Several major Japanese corporations, including SUBARU, YAMATO, NISSAN, Rakuten AEON, and Kyocera, were invited to visit and engage in conversations, many praising Taiwan's smart technology and culture. Yuriko Koike, governor of Tokyo, visited exhibition booths that highlighted new trends in low-carbon lifestyle, such as E Ink's bus stop system and YouBike. She also expressed amazement at the National Palace Museum's use of digital technology to turn Guo Xi's painting, Early Spring from the Song Dynasty into an interactive experience.

Gaius Automotive Inc., a manufacturer of electric commercial tricycles, made its debut at the exhibition and immediately engaged international logistics giants, Japanese logistics groups, and well-known department store chains in conversations aiming to accelerate the electrification of their respective logistics transportation vehicles. The president of Japan's largest shared bicycle platform visited the exhibition after hearing about the display of YouBike vehicles from Taiwan and engaged in discussions with YouBike operators.

Exhibitors in the Smart Healthcare Zone received in-depth coverage from multiple media outlets, including Japan's NHK General TV and Yomiuri news. This highlights Japan's strong demand for smart healthcare and medical services, particularly in light of its aging population and declining birth rates. Among the exhibitors, V5med Technologies' lung CT AI-assisted diagnosis software stood out. It helps with early detection of lung cancer and assists medical professionals with saving up to 70% of diagnosis time, thereby improving the detection rate. Prior to the exhibition, the company had already been in conversations with Marubeni Corporation, and after the exhibition, they signed a cooperation agreement to promote their product to medical institutions in Japan.

One of the highlights of this exhibition was the Orchid Zone featuring the past coexistence of orchids and dinosaurs, both originating from the Cretaceous period. The ecological setting showcasing Taiwan's unique array of orchid species not only attracted many Japanese visitors who eagerly took photos, it also garnered interest from Japanese businesses in Symon Agricultural Biotech’s nano spray dyeing technology. Since Japan lacks such applications for customized orchid dyeing, Japanese corporations, including Sanyo Shoji, LION, and AEON Retail saw significant business opportunities. In addition, Chairman Huang Chih-Fang of TAITRA presented a butterfly orchid spray-dyed with the Japanese flag to Governor Yuriko Koike, symbolizing the friendship between Taiwan and Japan.

To strengthen industrial cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, the exhibition also hosted two industry forums: the Taiwan-Japan Semiconductor Industry Collaboration Forum and the AI and Metaverse Innovative Collaboration Forum. Given the rapid growth of the global semiconductor industry and Taiwan's unique semiconductor ecosystem, both countries aim to collaborate and enhance their global influence in the semiconductor sector.

The Taiwan Expo series came to a perfect conclusion in Tokyo this year. In 2024, the International Trade Administration, MOEA and TAITRA plan to continue organizing Taiwan Expos in Indonesia, India, and Vietnam under the New Southbound Policy. They will also venture into Germany for the first time, leading Taiwanese companies in the expansion of their presence in global markets.

Source: Taiwan International Tradeshows