With over three decades of experience in the chemicals industry across markets in the West and Asia-Pacific, Kraton Formosa Polymers Corp. President Mike Wong knows how to run a successful business in a sometimes controversial sector. From negotiating and overseeing the successful formation of a joint venture, to ensuring the health, safety, and environmental standards…
Washington, D.C.-based Peter Cleveland, Vice President of Global Policy for the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), has an insider’s knowledge of how to frame and convey the interests and benefits of a multinational corporation to a broad audience. Given his many years on Capitol Hill, as well as his experience in the private sector working…
AmCham’s Human Resources Committee last year raised an important issue regarding how the Ministry of Labor (MOL) determines whether a given labor agreement constitutes an employment, mandate, or independent contractor relationship. The MOL makes this determination based on a 25-item checklist that includes such criteria as whether the business entity provides certain labor benefits; whether…
In the nearly year-long absence of international travelers, Taipei’s hotels have begun shifting some of their focus to their food and beverage business, offering attractive package deals and coming up with new, delicious ways to draw in the island’s domestic travelers. As international travel to Taiwan ground to a complete halt last spring following the…
Joseph Ho, a native of Hong Kong and recent Taiwan transplant, brings a wealth of sales, marketing, and brand experience to his current role as Director and General Manager of Swire Coca-Cola Taiwan. This experience has led him to prioritize relationships throughout his career, and he emphasizes that trust and communication are central to maintaining…
Over-the-top (OTT) platforms are experiencing a peak in popularity in Taiwan as the pandemic alters consumer habits and more people turn away from subscription cable services. However, proposed government regulations could create some significant barriers. More and more households worldwide are switching away from traditional cable television to view an increasing amount of audiovisual content…
U.S., Taiwan Hold Economic Talks The inaugural U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Dialogue (EPP) was held in mid-November. The nine-hour talks took place both virtually and through physical meetings in Washington, D.C. and culminated in a five-year memorandum of understanding between the two sides. Among the topics discussed during the EPP were bilateral economic cooperation in the…
Stimulus Voucher Program Expanded The popular triple stimulus voucher program introduced by the Taiwan government in July has been expanded to include Alien Permanent Residency Certificate (APRC) holders and foreign diplomats. Starting from November 16, Taiwan’s approximately 13,000 permanent residents and 1,400 diplomatic personnel can purchase the vouchers, which cost NT$1,000 and are valued at…
This August, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), in partnership with U.S. tech multinational Cisco Systems, announced the launch of a 5G “open lab.” The initiative creates a platform where Taiwanese suppliers can apply to develop a range of 5G-related hardware and software, including small-cell base stations, IoT devices, and network switches, via Cisco’s cloud-based…
For Louis Ko, general manager of Johnson & Johnson Medical Taiwan, change is unavoidable. The Kellogg School of Management graduate has led the Taiwan affiliates of two multinational companies through big structural transitions, a major feat for anyone at any stage of their career. Ko says that being adaptable and adopting the right mindset were…
