Only the Taipei Dome could hold all members and readers interested in attending the Hsieh Nien Fan, so here’s a recap of an eventful March 30 evening for those of you we missed. The Thanks: To Taiwan and Taipei City, for providing safe, “uniquely normal” conditions that allowed almost 550 vaccinated and masked people to…
At the end of February, as Taiwan observed its annual Peace Memorial Day and much of the world was reeling from the crisis in Ukraine, it cheered me to learn that a new NGO is working to help minimize global shocks. The Reform for Resilience (R4R) Commission was launched globally two years ago to tackle…
In December’s “President’s View,” I flagged two member challenges: business travel and climate action. With apologies for breaking the spell of the seasonally appropriate Wine & Dine coverage, I would like to outline two more: supply chains and geoeconomic competition. These are global stories in which Taiwan figures prominently. Concerns about supply chains – their…
Summertime woes – drought, electrical grid failure, unavailability of vaccines, even a lull in K-entertainment (until Squid Game graced our streaming devices, that is) – are by this month mere memories. However, a few tough problems remain. Taiwan and AmCham, specifically, are on the case. I note two issues here: business travel and climate action….
Two weeks back, I got schooled on the craft of business model “digital make-overs,” courtesy of six excellent student group presentations from our NextGen class of 2021, in a session led by IBM Consulting’s Dylan Li. Last week, I had the honor of helping host Taiwan’s Digital Minister, Audrey Tang, alongside epidemiologist and former Vice…
Nothing puts one in a reflective mood like turning 70. As the September issue of TOPICS showed, AmCham has been mulling over U.S.-Taiwan ties, of which the Chamber has been such a significant part since its founding on September 14, 1951. Another source of reflection has been a monograph we are co-producing with the prestigious…
Longevity. It’s not just this month’s cover story, it is the watchword of Taiwan’s government, the individuals who call Taiwan home – and even your septuagenarian Chamber. At over 80 years, the average lifespan in Taiwan compares well globally. Thanks to improving environmental practices, a model comprehensive health service, good genes, and an innovative medtech…
As for many of you, this is normally my season of backpacks, beaches, and barbecues. For now, the President’s View, literally, centers on the Keelung River, refilled after several much-needed rains and fringed by green hills. My panorama comes courtesy of the amba Taipei Songshan design hotel – Chamber member since 2017, home of an…
The Biden administration’s announcement that it would resume trade and investment negotiations with Taiwan after a five-year hiatus is a more significant development than some may realize. Since the mid-1990s, the “TIFA talks,” typically held each year, have proven to be a useful vehicle for ironing out policy differences between the two sides and setting the stage…
Mid-year 2021 finds the U.S. and Taiwan light years from one another…and closer than ever. I can explain. The U.S. boasts a resurgent economy: its schools, offices, shops, and airports all back in vigorous operation. Nearly half the population has been vaccinated – and fewer than 50% are masking. There may be nothing approaching political…
