TAIPEI - Chinese companies are set to place more than US$2.2 billion of orders in Taiwan this year to help boost the island's sagging economy, officials said Friday.

"We received orders totalling US$827 million by the end of July while another US$1.4 billion are expected by year-end," said Wang Chih-kang, chairman of Taiwan External Trade Development Council.

The bulk of the orders was electronic products such as computers and television screens, Wang said.

The announcement came as the first of three Chinese business delegations on a buying mission was wrapping up its visit here, with two further groups arriving late June and next month.

The delegation consists of 77 members representing 40 mainland enterprises, including home appliance and information technology firms Haier, Lenovo and Changhong.

The unusual plan launched by China's authorities - for the first time in nearly six decades - is a further sign of the improvement in ties between Taipei and Beijing after the China-friendly administration of President Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated last year.

Taiwan's export orders fell 20.90 percent year-on-year to US$25.13 billion in April on continued weakness in global demand for its key electronic products.

The island also reported a record economic contraction of 10.24 percent in the first quarter of this year, after an 8.61 percent dive in the previous three months on dwindling overseas demand.

China still regards Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, although the island has been self-governing since the end of their civil war in 1949.