The Computex expo 2013 in Taiwan looks set to recover lost grounds after the volume of trade decreased last year. It is expected to generate business worth $25bn this year, nearly 1/4th of Taiwan's total ICT export, according to Walter Yeh, executive vice president of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).
While the numbers do look ambitious, the fact that Computex 2013 will be graced by more than 40,000 international buyers and 140,000 global exhibitors means that there is every possibility of meeting the target. In fact, a similar machine tools expo in Taiwan last month also witnessed a 30% increase in business volumes.
One big focus area for the show this year will be on Taiwan's cloud computing market, expected to be worth NT$15bn by 2015. According to the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the global market for cloud computing is expected to reach $63.84 billion by 2015 from the $29.75 recorded in 2011.
To be organized between June 4th-8th by TAITRA in conjunction with Taipei Computer Association (TCA), Computex 2013 will have separate international pavilions from America, Canada, China, Israel, Hong Kong and Korea. Mainland China will be contributing the maximum vistors, though the organizers expect increasing participation from focus emerging markets like Philippines, Kuwait, India, Russia and Brasil.
Other than cloud computing, Computex 2013 will also focus on various light and portable gadgets, including tablet computers, phone-tablet hybrids and ultrabooks. Among this year's highlights, "phablets" are likely to take the center stage, with various manufacturers combining either Google's Android operating system or Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system with the phone factor.
Computex 2013 profile
Position
1. The largest ICT trade show in Asia and the second largest in the world
2. 33rd edition in 2013
3. Attracts more than 36,000 international buyers
Scale of Show
1,700 exhibitors and 5,000 booths
Exhibition Dates & Hours
June 4th - June 7th, 2013  9:30 AM - 6:00 PM
June 8th, 2013 Â 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Estimated Visitors
Over 130,000 visitors, including 36,000 international visitors
Exhibition Venues
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Taipei World Trade Center NANGANG Exhibition Hall (1, Jingmao 2nd Road, Taipei)
Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 (5, Sec. 5, Xinyi Road, Taipei)
Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 3 (6, Songshou Road, Taipei)
Taipei International Convention Center (1, Sec. 5, Xinyi Road, Taipei)
Show Product Categories
NANGANG:Â Components & Parts, Data Storage Products,
Computers & Systems, Embedded Products, POS System Products, National Pavilions, International Exhibitors, China Exhibitors
Hall 1:Â (1F & 2F), Communication Products, Peripherals & Accessories,Internet of Things, COMPUTREND, Media
Hall 3:Â Optoelectronic Display & Digital Entertainment Products, Handheld Plus,Â
TICC
Stellar Exhibitors Organizers
Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)
Taipei Computer Association (TCA)
Key Exhibitors
Taiwanese Exhibitors
Acer, A-Data, Advantech, Apacer, Asus, AVerMedia, Clevo, CMC, COMPAL, Delta, Elitegroup, GIGABYTE, KYE, MiTAC, MSI, Muzee, Ritek, Thermaltake, Transcend
International Exhibitors
Akasa, AMD, Broadcom, Cooler Master, Corning, Ford, Hasee, Hisense, Intel, Leapfrog, Loop, Marvell, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Promate, Realtek Semiconductor, Rosewill, SanDisk, Sanyo Denki, Supermicro, TP-Link, USB Implementers Forum, WANLIDA, Western Digital, ZOTAC
Top 10 Countries by Int'l Visitors 2012
1. Japan     2. United States 3. Mainland China 4. Hong Kong 5. Korea
6. Singapore 7. Malaysia     8. Russia         9. Germany  10. Thailand
Events
1. International Press Conference and New Product Previews
2. Opening Ceremony
3. Buyers' Night
4. COMPUTEX TAIPEI SUMMIT FORUM/CLOUD INDUSTRY FORUM/MOBILE COMMERCE INDUSTRY FORUM/SMART LIVING INDUSTRY FORUM/DESIGN FORUM
5. One-on-one Procurement Match-Making Meetings
6. COMPUTEX TAIPEI Invitational Golf Tournament
7. COMPUTEX TAIPEI design and innovation (d&i) awards
8. Best Choice Award
9. Ms. COMPUTEX
10. Final Day Press Conference
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(The author was hosted by TAITRA in Taiwan)