台湾企业转型谋夺高端市场

AS IT IS 2015-10-24 Taiwanese Business Seeks Specialized¹ Markets 台湾企业转型谋夺高端市场

The influence of China’s economy continues to spread. But China’s neighbors are facing new issues as they fight to stay competitive.

Taiwan’s economy has been hit hard in recent years. But some businesses there are finding a way to develop specialized markets and succeed, even with China so nearby.

Hou Chau-pai’s family has grown edamame, or hairy green soybeans, in southern Taiwan for many years. Fierce competition from China at one time cut Taiwan’s exports of the tasty bean to Japan in half. But now, Taiwan has regained² its position as the leading supplier. Mr. Hou says it is difficult to compete with China. But Taiwan’s neighbor has a blind spot. In other words, the Chinese economy makes more of some products than others.

Mr. Hou said that many people in China say all the country has to do is meet demand at home. But, he added, “Less thought is given to opening up new channels or markets or improving the quality of products because few see agriculture as an investment opportunity in China.”

In Taiwan, government support and efforts to use machinery³ to increase crop production have been important. So have efforts by researchers to create new versions of the bean.

Chou Kuo-lung is a government researcher with Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture. He says innovation and new ideas have kept Taiwan’s edamame growers from failing.

He told VOA that, “We’re not afraid of competing with China. What we’re afraid of the most is that we don’t progress and get stuck in a rut.”

Agriculture is not the only industry in which Taiwanese businesses are using innovation to create specialized, or niche⁴, markets. The companies are also avoiding competition in highly traditional, standardized⁵ products - an area where China can do better.

Liang Kuo-Yuan is with the Yuanta-Polaris Research Institute. He says Taiwan’s niche markets should center on products that are not made in huge numbers but diversified⁶ and customizable.

One example of this kind of product is Gogoro, a smart electric scooter. Former HTC mobile phone officials recently demonstrated the scooters in public for the first time. The motorized device shows some of the manufacturing and high-technology know-how⁷ that Taiwan is known for. The scooters are different from competing models because the power supplies can be exchanged at charging stations.

Local governments are offering financial assistance to those who purchase the bikes. The company hopes to market the idea in other countries.

Words in This Story

blind spot – n. an area around a vehicle that the driver cannot see; ignoring something, partly because it is difficult or unpleasant

opportunity – n. a time or situation in which something can be done

innovation - n. a new device, idea or method

rut – n. a custom or fixed⁸ action that gets repeated again and again

niche – n. when a business’s products or services can succeed by being sold to a particular kind or group of people

diversified – adj. to produce or sell more kinds of products; to increase the variety of goods or services produced or offered

customizable – adj. about to customized; able to be changed to meet the needs or requirements of a person, group or company

1 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

2 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

3 machinery   

n.(总称)机械，机器；机构

参考例句：

• Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？
• Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

4 niche   

n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等)

参考例句：

• Madeleine placed it carefully in the rocky niche. 玛德琳小心翼翼地把它放在岩石壁龛里。
• The really talented among women would always make their own niche.妇女中真正有才能的人总是各得其所。

5 standardized   

adj.标准化的

参考例句：

• We use standardized tests to measure scholastic achievement. 我们用标准化考试来衡量学生的学业成绩。
• The parts of an automobile are standardized. 汽车零件是标准化了的。

6 diversified   

adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域

参考例句：

• The college biology department has diversified by adding new courses in biotechnology. 该学院生物系通过增加生物技术方面的新课程而变得多样化。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Take grain as the key link, develop a diversified economy and ensure an all-round development. 以粮为纲，多种经营，全面发展。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

7 know-how   

n.知识；技术；诀窍

参考例句：

• He hasn't got the know-how to run a farm.他没有经营农场的专业知识。
• I don't have much know-how about engines.发动机方面的技术知识我知之甚少。

8 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。