GARDEN Trader (SPRING 2019)

Mr. Gerd Keim, President of Kaigo Co; Ltd, organiz- er of THS said that, “Taiwan hardware tools have always been the preferred choice for global key buyers to purchase for imports. The hardware exhibition has grown year after year, showing the international buyers' trust in the quality of Taiwan's hardware tools. In order to accommodate more exhibitors and provide a more comfortable exhibition space, it has been relocated to the Taichung International Exhibition Hall since the last edition. Given that Taichung has risen as the second largest export area of the global hardware industry in recent years, we have chosen to continue holding the exhibition here. This move mirrors the developmental trend of the industries where manufacturers and international buyers want to meet each other closer and more directly. The exhibition therefore facilitates this need to encourage ease of networking and procurement activities.” This year, the Taiwan Hardware Show and The Taiwan External Trade Development Council jointly held the ‘2018 Hand Tools Industry Cluster Purchasing Day’, inviting purchasers from high value-added industries such as aerospace, medical, automotive repair and digital hand tools to come to Taiwan to participate in the exhibition. In the effort to rapidly improve the image of China's hand tools industry, and to also support the International Federation of Hardware & Housewares Association’s (IHA) intent to jointly build a hardware exchange platform, THS invited IHA Chairman Mr. Jean- François Dubost to present on the international DIY home hardware market trends that would help manufac- turers to build stronger export capabilities. According to Kuani Gear Co., Ltd.’s President Cheng Ming Hsin, this is their third participating in the Taiwan Hardware Show and shared that he was, “deeply impressed by the growth of visitors and the many crowd. This year, I was surprised by the foreign visitors who have been pouring in for three days. Foreign buyers have come to the exhibition to directly talk to us. We can also take them to the factory for technical sharing and receive orders directly. This is a great advantage. We are quite optimistic about this exhibition. We hope that there will be more substantial development in the future. I hope that the industry will also support the Taiwan Hardware Show, so that the Taiwan hand tool industry will not only shine in Taichung, but also go global.” Based on Karat Industrial Corporation President Philey Ko’s observation, “the quality of overseas buyers who came to visit Taiwan Hardware Show is quite good. This year particularly, we can clearly feel the buyer's TRADE SHOW REVIEW w w w . I M B 2 B . c o m 107