RIYADH, 9 September 2006 — Taiwan’s exports to the Kingdom dropped 11 percent in the first half of this year due to low-priced products flooding the Saudi market from China.
Yan Hsing Yin, director of the Economic Division at the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO), made his comments on the occasion of a 23-member Taiwanese business mission, which will arrive in Jeddah today.
The mission represents a wide range of industries, from electronics, information technology and industrial machinery to high technology products. The venue of the exhibition will be Le Jeddah Meridien Hotel.
The major items that saw a drop in exports to the Kingdom were consumer electronics, textiles, chemicals, and iron and steel products.
Yan took the opportunity to laud products made in Taiwan compared to those made in China: “If you compare the quality of Taiwan-made products with those “Made in China”, you will soon find out that Taiwan products can be trusted and give consumers greater satisfaction.”
Taiwan’s import from the Kingdom went up in the first half of 2006 by 52 percent to $5 billion mainly due rise in oil prices.
“We do hope that this time the 2006 Taiwan trade mission to Jeddah will help to improve our export to the Saudi market by enabling us to conclude some long-term import/export business and investments,” he said.