Central America Trade Office

Central America seeks business partners at 2009 Taipei International Food Show

2009-06-19

Taipei. A delegation of over 40 Central American businessmen will be participating in the 2009 Taipei International Food Show, to be held in the Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall from the 23rd through 26th of June. Invited by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (Taitra) and the Central American Trade Office (CATO), the delegation comes from Taiwan’s Central American diplomatic allies- Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama- to ever visit Taiwan, seeking business partners and commercial opportunities.

The delegation will be presenting their goods in a 28-booth joint pavilion, highlighting hundreds of products including drinks such as coffee, noni, fruit juices floral teas and other exotic items such as organic honey, Atlantic ocean seafood and lime seasonings. Visitors to the stands will be granted the opportunity to taste some of the products being presented.

“Our Central American diplomatic allies have a grand variety of products which they’re presenting to the Taiwanese market,” said CATO Executive Director Simon Hsing. “The delegation is looking for business partners to with whom to work together to expand opportunities for both Taiwan and Central America”, he added, noting that total trade between Taiwan and Central America rose over 9% in year 2008.

Taiwan has signed free trade agreements (FTAs) with five of the diplomatic allies represented in the delegation, providing reciprocal tax incentives for businesses and investors. These benefit both local consumers of Central America goods, as they pay lower tariffs on imports, but helps Taiwanese suppliers present their goods at an improved condition against competitors of other regions of the world.

International Food Show Opening ceremony