Elected New Chairman of the TBEA
Ying-Ming Yang, chairman of Kenda Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd., was elected at the end of 2004 as new chairman of the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association (TBEA), headquartered in Taipei city.
The 56-year-old entrepreneur has been running Kenda Rubber, located in Changhua county, central Taiwan, home of Taiwan's bicycle industry, for three decades. He was asked by his father to return to Taiwan to take over the presidency of the company in 1974, one year after obtaining a master's degree in chemical engineering in the United States. He was then only 26 years old.
Prior to proceeding to the U.S. for advanced studies, Yang studied in the prestigious National Taiwan University, majoring in chemical engineering. He graduated from the university with good academic performance.
In charge of sales and marketing, Yang traveled extensively, particularly to Europe to promote sales of tires made by Kenda Rubber. "I used to stay as long as one and a half months in an attempt to acquire some orders, without returning home empty-handed," the Kenda Rubber chairman said. Taking advantage of what he learned in the U.S. in chemical engineering, Yang also learned a lot from his broad and wide travels in Europe and other countries. Language communication was not a problem for Yang when dealing with potential overseas customers.
In the capacity as chairman of the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association, Yang said he plans to provide better services to his members in his three-year tenure. The current membership of the trade association now stands at around 335. Although many manufacturers and exporters have moved offshore for production, largely to mainland China, the membership of the TBEA remains quite stable. Yang is hopeful of expanding its membership.
The new TBEA chairman said he wants to make the association a stronger link between the government and the bicycle industry. "The Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs has tremendous funds available for the private sector to apply for use in upgrading industrial levels. I would like, on behalf of the bicycle industry, to fight for more funds to help improve our sector," noted Yang.
The Board of Foreign Trade, an arm of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, also provides subsidies to various industries to participate in international trade shows around the globe. "We did receive subsidies from the Board of Foreign Trade each year, encouraging our members to take part in bicycle-related trade shows, helping our members to broaden their visions and keeping them informed of global market trends of the bicycle industry," the TBEA chairman said.
Each year, the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association, in cooperation with the Cycling & Health Tech Industry R&D Center organizes the "Innovative Products Competition" for the bicycle industry by using some of the subsidies granted by the Board of Foreign Trade (BOFT).
Industry forums
Yang said he has plans to organize forums during Taipei International Cycle Show for the bicycle industry, academics and government leaders to meet and discuss matters relating to the industry. Foreign experts will also be invited as speakers.
Taking advantage of international trade shows, Yang said, the TBEA works to enhance the corporate image of the association and the industry as a whole. The secretary general of the association is charged with this mission, the chairman said.
Yang said he will increase and enhance interchanges with the counterparts of the Taiwan Bicycle Exporters Association around the globe in a bid to promote better exchanges with people in the same industry.
Kenda Rubber, a leading manufacturer of tires and tubes for bicycles, motorcycles, cars and others for industrial usage, has two factories in mainland China and one in Vietnam in addition to the two in Taiwan.
Yang said some 90 percent of tires exported by Kenda Rubber carry the Kenda brand. Mainland China is currently the biggest market for Kenda, accounting for 32 percent of its total sales, followed by the United States at 28 percent, and Europe at 14 percent. Bicycle tires remain the top foreign exchange earner for Kenda Rubber, standing at 27 percent of its overall revenues.