Jul 16, 2009
Taiwan joins GPA club, eyeing huge US government procurement market
Taiwan became the 41st signatory country of the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) under the World Trade Organization (WTO) on July 15, entitling Taiwan-based enterprises to participate in government procurement open bids in all 41 member economies, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).
Government procurement projects in the 41 markets are estimated at about US$960.3 billion a year, and the US market is the largest with US$760.5 billion, followed by the EU market with US$120.5 billion, MOEA indicated.
Taiwan-based IT and communication/network hardware makers stand a good chance of winning such open bids, especially in the US market, because of their strong competitiveness, MOEA said, adding that China-based competitors are not qualified for these projects because their government has not yet signed the GPA.
Taiwan also has to open its government procurement market to businesses from the other 40 members, with the annual value estimated at US$6.0 billion, MOEA indicated.
[ Bryan Chuang, Taipei; Adam Hwang, DIGITIMES ]
Source:TAITRA