Benjamin Chen, who was recently on board Advantech, has been inaugurated as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing Division of Advantech Industrial Automation Group (IAG). Mr. Chen, the former General Manager of PRI Automation Southeast Asia & Greater China Region, has accumulated over 15 years' precious experience in top management positions in electronics industry. His invaluable expertise in leading hi-tech company will definitely push IAG into a faster and more energetic track.

Upon joining Advantech, Mr. Chen jumped right into IAG 2000 Vision Workshop together with K.C. Liu, the CEO of Advantech, as well as Alex Lin, the Managing Director of American Area, and other IAG management staff, In the workshop, they reached the conclusions for IAG vision: becoming a global leader of PC-based Industrial Automation; achieving US$120 million global turnover in 2003; planning eventual spin-off & IPO in NASDAQ no later than 2003; and growing into a total market value over US$400 million.

Among these vision statements, NASDAQ listing by 2003 might be the most exciting. The motivations for going NASDAQ are to:

• Advance Advantech toward a solid global enterprise through NASDAQ listing in the US stock market.
• Institute US market's strict examination to improve our product quality and sales/marketing.
• Attract world talents with Stock Option incentive program.
• Encourage Advantech's 2nd wave of growth.