NANNING, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan organized its biggest-ever delegation to the China-ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Expo, two months before the establishment of the world's largest free trade area (FTA), a local official told Xinhua Thursday.

    More than 400 exhibitors in ten groups from Taiwan had registered to join the expo from Oct. 20 to 24 in Nanning, capital of southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the official with the regional government said.

    "Taiwan companies attach great importance to the FTA and we simply want to catch the opportunity," said Lin Hsiang Neng, an expert at trade policies.

    China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) is due to be established on Jan. 1, 2010 under a series of agreements between China and ASEAN. It will provide zero tariff on 90 percent of products traded between China and ASEAN and other favorable policies on trade and investment.

    Sources from the Taiwan delegation said they eyed agriculture as one of the most beneficial field as Taiwan and the ASEAN countries are both famed for agricultural products and have similar geographic environment.

    Taiwan's agricultural industry was competitive across the world, but had been affected by the global downturn due to its exporting-oriented economic mode, said Guo Wei Chin, board chairman of Taiwan Kuangyi Organic Agriculture Development Corporation.

    Guo said Taiwan companies could not wait to explore the Southeast Asian markets as well as the market in southwest China.

    Chen Qiuhua, director of the regional forestry authority, also encouraged Taiwan exhibitors to invest in Guangxi as it would be the doorway between China and ASEAN after the establishment of the CAFTA.