Taiwan Excellence SmarTEST!

3 winners to proudly represent India in final for SmarTEST!

Asia’s largest and most rewarding online contest, the 2012 Taiwan Excellence SmarTEST! announced today, three proudcitizens of India who are three finalists from stage 2 challenges, and will represent India to compete with fellow contestants from Asia to fight for the coveted title of being the “SmarTEST!” in the 2012 Taiwan Excellence SmarTEST! contest, designed to promote Taiwan Excellence to the world.

The winners were Gaurav Mittal of Delhi, Akif Khan Yusuf Zai of Delhi, and Mohsin

Ahmed Batla of Delhi, respectively the first- to third-place winners after several rounds

of intense battles, including online challenges as well as the national final held in

Mumbai on September 17. More than 30,000 voters nationwide participated and

witnessed the whole process by voting to their favorite contestants, and shared their

smartest creativity and enthusiasm on Taiwan Excellence products.

Their achievements were significant considering what they had to go through to arrive

at this stage of the race. The three were among the top ten selected from 5,678 of

participants across India who took a 24-hour quiz testing their knowledge on Taiwan

excellence during stage one of the competition. Then, during the earlier portions of

stage two, the ten finalists were asked to design marketing campaigns for Taiwan

Excellence products, provided by the 32 brands of the 2012 SmarTEST! such as Adata,

Asus, Aver, AVerMedia, Avision, BenQ, Carnation, Cashido, Cooler Master, Crosscarf,

D-Link, Edimax, Eilong, Enermax, Everlight, Genius, Gigabyte, HTC, Inadays, Just

Mobile, Karma, Microlife, Optoma, PQI, PX, Shuter, Silicon Power, Strength Master,

Thermaltake, Transcend, Watotec and Yensun. They were asked to upload the videos

and photos of their work on the Internet, which were then voted by the netizens of

India.

Then, the top six vote-getters advanced into the final rounds held in Mumbai on

September 17, where they were quizzed over their knowledge of Taiwan and spoke

about what they would do in their capacity as Taiwan Excellence ambassadors, in front

of judges and an entire audience.

“It’s been a long and difficult journey to get to this point, but it’s all worth it, and I’m

proud of my achievement. Challenge 4 in particular was fun, in which I had to create a

jingle around the Strength Master Heart Rate Ring. Taiwan Excellence products have

been an integral part of the competition and have inspired us to think smart and be

innovative. I think Taiwan Excellence is really a smart choice for me, as well as for

everyone. ” said Gaurav Mittal, who won the title of the “SmarTEST!” person of India

and will walk away with a prize of US$5,000.

“Participating in SmarTEST! 2012 has been an enthralling experience. Each and every

stage was fun and challenging. I am very excited to be one of the SmarTEST! Indians

to compete at the grand finale in Taipei,” said second-place winner Akif Khan Yusuf

Zai.

Mohsin Ahmed Batla, the third-place winner, said, “Thank you, Taiwan Excellence

SmarTEST! for such an amazing chance to represent India at a global event like

SmarTEST 2012. I am extremely motivated to participate in the grand finale.”

The three will now form India’s national team and travel to Taiwan to duke it out with

fellow contestants from China, Indonesia and Vietnam for the Final Stage of

competition to be held in Taipei during October 12th ~ 16th, fighting for the title of being

the “SmarTEST!” team, not to mention the grand prize of US$30,000. During this stage

of the competition the contestants may team up with India’s celebrity endorsers,

Malaika Arora Khan.

The 2012 Taiwan Excellence SmarTEST! is an annual campaign organized by Bureau

of Foreign Trade (BOFT), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) of Taiwan and

implemented by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) with the goal

of promoting Taiwan Excellence products to the rest of the world. It is hoped through

this campaign overseas consumers will gain a better understanding of these reliable,

innovative and remarkable products brought by Taiwan Excellence.

The SmarTEST! website provides the most updated and exciting information on the

competition. Please visit www.2012smartest.com

About Taiwan Excellence

http://www.taiwanexcellence.com.tw/ind

Taiwan Excellence was set up in 1992 by BOFT and TAITRA to encourage Taiwan

industries to upgrade and incorporate innovalue into their products. The Award of

Taiwan Excellence today is the highest accolade awarded to Taiwan products that

encapsulate innovalue. The symbol of Taiwan Excellence heralds Taiwan's ascent

to world-class quality in product innovation, design and manufacturing, representing

the highest standards which Taiwan products must meet to maintain its competitive

edge in the global markets. In 2010, BOFT entrusted TAITRA to introduce Taiwan

Excellence awarded innovative, reliable, and super value ICT products and brands

to the rapidly developing countries and bring leading-edge technologies to the

markets for excellent lifestyles. In 2012, 63 Taiwan Excellence awarded brands

partnered up with TAITRA in Indonesia, India, Vietnam, and Mainland China

markets.