Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs 2025 Global Procurement Conference: Buyers from 48 Countries to Gather, with Estimated Business Opportunities of $500 Million.

Taiwan • Business • 04/21 02:58
Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs 2025 Global Procurement Conference: Buyers from 48 Countries to Gather, with Estimated Business Opportunities of $500 Million.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs held the "2025 Global Procurement Conference" on April 23, 2025, attracting 471 international buyers from 48 countries to negotiate with 1,805 Taiwanese companies, with an estimated business opportunity of $500 million. The conference covered 12 major industries, setting a new record for scale. Due to the United States' 32% tariff policy on Taiwan, 36 out of 128 American buyers canceled their trips to Taiwan, demonstrating the impact of trade policies on business activities. The Ministry of Economic Affairs invited buyers from other countries through its overseas offices to fill the gap.

Key Updates

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04/21 23:00

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04/21 02:58

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs 2025 Global Procurement Conference: Buyers from 48 Countries to Gather, with Estimated Business Opportunities of $500 Million.

Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs held the "2025 Global Procurement Conference" on April 23, 2025, attracting 471 international buyers from 48 countries to negotiate with 1,805 Taiwanese companies, with an estimated business opportunity of $500 million. The conference covered 12 major industries, setting a new record for scale. Due to the United States' 32% tariff policy on Taiwan, 36 out of 128 American buyers canceled their trips to Taiwan, demonstrating the impact of trade policies on business activities. The Ministry of Economic Affairs invited buyers from other countries through its overseas offices to fill the gap.

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Global Procurement Conference Sets New Record

The "2025 Global Procurement Conference," organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Bureau of Foreign Trade, will officially kick off on April 23. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, this year's conference has attracted 471 international buyers from 48 countries, including Germany, the UK, South Korea, and Japan, to Taiwan for face-to-face negotiations with domestic companies. The total number of negotiation sessions has reached 1,805, covering 12 major industries, including:

  • Information and communication technology and electronic components/green energy products
  • Machinery and machine tools
  • Electric vehicle solutions/products
  • Bicycles and sporting goods
  • Medical equipment and biotechnology
  • Food and agricultural products
  • Beauty products
  • Service industry, among others

Among these, the strongest demand is for information and communication technology and electronic components/green energy products, with 234 international buyers expressing interest in negotiations.

Officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs pointed out that the event was not organized as a temporary response to U.S. tariff policies but has been in preparation since the beginning of the year, expanding in scale based on industry needs and international trends. In the past, procurement conferences were mostly focused on a single industry, but this year, for the first time, multiple industries have been integrated for a joint event, showcasing Taiwan's industrial diversification and integration capabilities.

Impact of U.S. Reciprocal Tariff Policy on Buyer Participation

Despite the unprecedented scale of the conference, U.S. President Trump announced a 32% reciprocal tariff policy on Taiwan in early April, which has impacted the event. According to statistics from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, out of the 128 U.S. buyers originally registered, nearly one-third canceled their trips to Taiwan. Ultimately, 92 U.S. buyers participated in the negotiations.

In addition to the U.S., some buyers from Europe and Japan also canceled their trips. Originally, 373 European buyers registered, with 88 canceling, resulting in 285 actual participants; Japan had 56 registered, with 12 canceling, leaving 44 participants.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that although some buyers chose not to come to Taiwan due to policy uncertainties, the overall number of participating countries and buyers still reached a record high, indicating Taiwan's strong appeal in the global supply chain. To compensate for the absence of U.S. buyers, the Bureau of Foreign Trade has urgently strengthened invitations to buyers from other countries through overseas offices to ensure the scale and quality of negotiations.

Event Format and Follow-up Arrangements

This procurement conference features in-person one-on-one negotiations, allowing buyers to pre-select negotiation partners based on their needs. All registered and operational domestic or foreign manufacturers and traders are eligible to participate. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has also arranged for some buyers to visit central Taiwan's industrial hubs on April 24 for more in-depth matchmaking, focusing on industries most affected by U.S. tariffs, such as machinery, precision components, hand tools, and automotive parts.

Additionally, the Ministry of Economic Affairs plans to hold two "Industry Cluster Order-Seeking Conferences" in Taichung and Kaohsiung in the second half of the year, focusing on industry clusters like mechanical components, plumbing hardware, metal manufacturing, and fasteners, further strengthening the connection between international buyers and Taiwan's industries.

References

People Also Ask...

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The United States has imposed a 32% tariff on Taiwanese goods. How will this affect our investment strategy?

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Will the United States imposing additional tariffs on Taiwan impact the international competitiveness and future investment opportunities of Taiwanese companies?

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At this conference, what new technologies or trends are worth noting? Especially in AI or blockchain?