In less than three weeks, Taichung Bike Week 2024 kicks off. SHOW DAILY spoke with Alfred Tsai from Taichung Bike Week partner Bicycle Cluster.
What can visitors of this year’s Taichung Bike Week expect?
Although most visitors come to TBW for arranged meetings and may not have specific expectations, this year’s TBW has indeed attracted a few new international exhibitors and start-ups. I believe that, aside from the closed-door meetings, visitors will find some new and exciting products or suppliers at the open booths.
How many companies will be exhibiting? What will be the highlights?
Currently, there are 329 exhibitors registered, with more companies still considering participation. Compared to last year, there has been a slight increase in the number of exhibitors. Additionally, this year’s TBW is different from previous years, with two notable events at the Splendor Hotel: On September 25th, Anchor Taiwan, which successfully hosted Bike Venture this year, will bring industry leaders together again during TBW for Taichung Week’s first content and insights-focused event. On September 26th, SGS will hold a session addressing e-bike battery regulations and solutions that are of concern to suppliers. It will also provide related information on IoT, cybersecurity, and more.
In which way will the current challenging economic situation influence Taichung Bike Week?
Although the market conditions are not favourable, the actual number of exhibitors has increased compared to last year. However, regarding international visitors, many exhibitors are still awaiting responses from potential attendees due to the recent European holidays and the unstable market situation. Many are still uncertain whether their clients will come to Taiwan. Nonetheless, one thing is sure: many companies currently have several development projects in progress. Therefore, despite the challenges, everyone continues moving forward and preparing for the future.
What is your and Bicycle Cluster’s role regarding Taichung Bike Week?
Bicycle Cluster is introducing a new year-round online exhibition model for Taichung Bike Week. We have partnered with three major hotels to provide all exhibitors and visitors with an online platform. This allows not only for product displays and online interactions but also enables visitors to quickly find products or suppliers. Additionally, through continuous promotion on social media, TBW is being transformed from a four-day event into a year-round interactive platform.
What are your plans for the future of Bicycle Cluster and Taichung Bike Week?
As mentioned above, I believe that an exhibition is essentially a physical platform/space that brings together companies, people, and products. As a digital platform, Bicycle Cluster aims to transform Taichung Bike Week or even include more partners in its ecosystem. This can be achieved through year-round activities, an integration of virtual and physical modes, and additional functionalities within this ecosystem. This is the direction we are working towards.