ùþ Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei
¡@¡@¡@¡@¡@Your Best Partner in Global Trade - Innovation, Efficiency, Service

ýûýûThe Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei¡]IEAT¡^, established in 1947, is one of the major and most influential private trade organizations in the country. Its 6,000-strong membership consists largely of small and medium-sized companies from various industries in the import/export sector. 
¡@¡@Trade is the bloodstream of the Taiwan economy, contributing to the remarkable achievement of an economic miracle during the past few decades. It continues to play a significant role in the country's macroeconomy as rapid changes occur with cross-strait economic exchange, globalization and accession to WTO membership. For five decades, the IEAT has been striving to consolidate member companies through promoting their common interests and the country's economic growth through expansion of foreign trade. The association is able to articulate its views on major trade and economic issues to policymakers, cope with changes in the environment, introduce new approaches, provide efficient and comprehensive service, help member companies to reach out to the global market, and develop business opportunities.

¡½ Leadership With A Vision; Service Par Excellence
úZúZThe administrative structure, under the charge of the Delegates Committee, consists of a board of directors, board of supervisors and six task-specific committees. The Delegates Committee elects 91 delegates, a 27-member board of directors made up of the IEAT Chairman, eight Executive Directors, a nine-member board of Supervisors, of whom two are Executive Supervisors and one the Summoner. 
úZúZTo ensure quality service, the Board of Directors oversees the operations of six task-specific committees that are responsible for international affairs liaison, membership liaison, trade publications, Mainland China trade research, scholarship awards, and business research and development. The committees set the operation guidelines for submission to the board of directors or the Delegates Committee for reference in their decision-making.
úZúZThe daily operations of IEAT is managed by the Secretary General with the assistance of the Deputy Secretary General. The office, staffed by some 40 personnel, takes charge of the finance & administration department, business department, information & publication department and the computer center. In 2002, the IEAT qualified for the ISO 2000 assessment and is aiming for enhanced quality of service to cater to needs of members. 

ùþ A Comprehensive Service 
Representing the Views of Industries
I. Protection for the Rights and Benefits of Companies

1. 1. To provide feedback on existing issues and constructive suggestions for improvement: Collection of information as regards issues of highest concern to members, such as taxation, customs and inspection, for timely advice to the authorities in charge. 
2. To assist in the formulation of major trade regulations: Participation in the drafting and revision of important trade laws; enlisting the opinions of experts and members for constructive suggestions.
3.  To establish committees based on industries and research projects: The operation of 20 committees based on industries and 8 based on special research fields; regular talks by group coordinators to foster exchange among members of the same industry and of different industries and to facilitate problem solving.

¡° Committees based on 20 industries
Agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing products
Processed food
Dairy products
Health food products
Chinese medicinal products
Western medicinal products
Textile products, including handbags
Building materials and furniture
Instruments, including medical and scientific items
Photographic equipment
Electrical equipment
Information products
Transportation equipment
Machinery tools
Sports and leisure products, including footwear
Toys, gifts and jewelry
Chemicals ¡]including minerals and related products¡^
Iron and steel products
Cosmetics and cleansing products
Tobacco, wine and liquor
¡° Committees based on eight special rese arch fields
Taxation
Freight and warehousing
Finance and foreign exchange
Customs procedures
Trade and commercial laws
Environmental protection
Mainland China Trade
Certification and Inspection

4. To maintain a Joint Service Center for Importers and Exporters: The management of a service center set up in 1998 to facilitate member companies in import and export procedures; joint consultancy by the Bureau of Foreign Trade and a dozen government departments; seminars to update members on the services of related trade departments and current economic developments.
   Paving the Way to Business Opportunities

II. Trade Promotion

1. Setting up cooperative partnership: Cooperation agreements are signed with about 80 trade and industrial organizations in more than 30 countries to foster commercial exchange as sister organizations. 
2. Receiving foreign trade and industrial organizations: Exchanges with visiting foreign organizations; assistance provided for talks on foreign markets; arrangement for business discussions.
3. Organization of study tours: Overseas trips for trade promotion, exhibition, procurement and market studies to create business opportunities.
4. Participation in international conferences: Participation in major international meetings to understand trade and economic developments as well as establishing foreign cooperation.
5. Organization of catalogue shows: Coordinating the participation of trade representatives to hold catalogue shows; compiling catalogues of member companies for catalogue shows in emerging markets to promote trade opportunities.
6. Organization of trade and economic seminars: Talks and seminars by experts, scholars and business representatives at home and abroad to introduce to members related matters as regards trade practices, taxation, finance, and trade opportunities in overseas markets. 
7. Organization of visits: Arranging for visits by members to the customs departments, production facilities, and science parks to familiarize members with the related operations.
8. Promotion of trade opportunities: Publicizing trade opportunities available from overseas companies or related agencies by posting announcements on the Trade Magazine and the website, and by display in the Trade Resource Library and regular updates of the electronic trade news.
9.  Issuance of certificate: Issuance of certificates of income through L/C assigned or transferred to other exporters/importers, export/import commissions and triangular trade, certificate of origin, and certificate of open tender to facilitate member companies in business processing. 
   Rapid Grasp and Dissemination of Market Information

III. Information Service

1. Publication of the Trade Magazine: Reports and analysis of domestic and foreign developments in trade and economy, foreign exchange, industries and markets; and IEAT news. Publication is distributed to members and related agencies at home and abroad. 
2. Publication of the English Taiwan International Trade Magazine: Reports on industries, and on major trade and economic developments in Taiwan to inform foreign companies about local investment climate.
3. The operation of a Trade Resource Library: Collection of over 7,000 publications that include directories to local and foreign trade and industrial bodies, trade statistics, product catalogues, and market survey reports, online search service and the sale of publications by related agencies.
4. Distribution of membership CD-ROM: The production of a CD-ROM listing of member companies according to H.S. Code to promote links between members and their foreign counterparts.
5.  Electronic services: The IEAT website¡]www.ieatpe.org.tw¡^contains a database on member companies, IEAT activities, publications, trade opportunities, and official trade rules and regulations; provides services for members to set up homepage and online promotion; enhances service efficiency through the Trade Magazine Electronic Journal and updates on trade opportunities.

The Nurturing of Trade Professionals 
IV. The Training of Trade Professionals

1. The ROC Trade Education Foundation: The ROC Trade Education Foundation was set up in 1979 to help train trade professionals. Courses conducted include trade practices, business English and Japanese, accounting, taxation, import-export customs procedures, and investment issues in Europe and Mainland China. 
2.  An international trade scholarship: An international trade scholarship is awarded regularly to college students in Taipei for excellent performance in related studies

¡½ Excellence, Innovation, Readiness
In light of the challenges posed by keen competition and low profit margins due to globalization, the IEAT strives for excellence and innovation in its cooperation with the various agencies. By doing so, it hopes to achieve a multiplier effect and the integration of resources in the public and private sectors so that all parties can work with a vision to strive for better service and stronger social influence, thus creating in Taiwan's foreign trade new value and enhanced competitiveness that lead to new heights of economic development.