Feb. 02, 2001

Despite all news of Taiwan's deteriorating business environment and rising costs, more and more foreign clients find the island quite competitive and increase their orders.

Among them is U.S.-based international PC giant Compaq, who pledged in January that its annual procurement from Taiwan would exceed US$10 billion for the first time in 2001. In 2000, the company had already exceeded its procurement forecast of US$ 9.3 billion to a real US$9.7 billion. Despite most industry sources saying that PC sales would drop considerably in 2001, Compaq is optimistic of the 2001 forecast.

Likewise, Compaq also enjoys increasing business on the Taiwan market, with a growth rate of 70% in 2000 over 1999 in sales of notebook PCs, consumer PCs and commercial PCs.