TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Vice President Lai Ching-te lauded Taiwan's textile industry for its economic contributions and advancements in smart manufacturing at the opening of the 2023 Taipei Innovative Textile Application Show (TITAS) on Tuesday (Oct. 17).
The 27th TITAS features participation from 11 countries, nearly 400 companies, and 70 brands. "We can see that the textile industry has emerged from the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic," Lai said.
Citing 2022 data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Lai revealed that Taiwan is home to 4,500 textile businesses, employing more than 140,000 people and generating an annual output value exceeding NT＄400 billion.
According to official data, the annual industrial trade surplus stands at a robust NT＄157.1 billion, ranking the textile sector as the fourth-largest industry in Taiwan by trade surplus.
In his opening remarks, Lai emphasized Taiwan's global leadership in functional textiles.
"The apparel worn by renowned athletes in the Olympics, the World Cup, and other international tournaments all originates from Taiwan," he said. "Taiwan excels not just in semiconductors but also in functional textile manufacturing."
Also, Lai commended the industry's efforts in digital transformation. "I foresee a future of smart everything," he said, giving examples that range from manufacturing and medicine to disaster prevention, smart cities, and nations.
He expressed admiration for the resilience shown by textile companies, who have continued to invest heavily in cutting-edge technology for manufacturing and digital transformation, despite industry downturns.
Lai also outlined his vision for Taiwan's economy, aspiring to create one "where the sun never sets" across all sectors.
Reaffirming Taiwan's dedication to increasing its global footprint, Lai said the island is committed to participating in regional economic integration and has applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
"Challenges are inevitable, but Taiwan will not back down," he concluded.