As the Russia-Ukraine war continues to escalate, some have questioned whether semiconductor powerhouse Taiwan will be affected. However, TrendForce notes that as Russia is not a primary market for the Taiwanese foundry industry, the direct impact of the sanctions piling up against Russia on Taiwanese foundries will likely remain limited. Nevertheless, the war may potentially…
More than for most businesses, shortening the time needed to bring a new product to market is vitally important for medical device companies. Given the industry’s rapid development of new technologies leading to steady improvements in functions and materials, the existing models of many devices are soon obsolete, ready to be replaced by next-generation products….
In one prominent international ranking of how well municipalities have developed themselves into smart cities, Taipei is positioned in eighth place, while in another it is 26th. One survey gives Taipei its highest score for environmental policies, and another considers it one of its lowest. The discrepancy reflects the arbitrary nature of these indices and…
A visiting Henry Luce Fellow looks at the progress Taiwan has made on its urban digitization efforts and what is needed to make those programs more effective and equitable for all citizens. Over the past five years, Taiwan has placed “smart cities” – urban centers that run on data collected through sensors and other electronic…
Last month, AmCham Taiwan concluded the third and final meeting between its various industry committees and representatives of relevant government agencies to discuss progress on the 2020 White Paper issues. The meetings, coordinated by the National Development Council and presided over by NDC Minister Kung Ming-hsin, were launched in 2018 as a way of increasing…
The numbering system used on foreign nationals’ alien resident certificates (ARCs) changed in January to match that of Taiwanese citizens’ IDs, removing a longstanding hindrance to carrying out everyday activities such as online banking, ticket booking, and registration for medical appointments. Before the change was made, whether an ARC number could be entered successfully online…
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…
A changing international environment is opening new opportunities. In this year’s Taiwan White Paper, AmCham Taipei introduced the first of what is intended to be a series of “Big Ideas” on how to move the Taiwan economy to a higher level. The initial proposal is for Taiwan to create what is known as a Sovereign…
Taiwan and the U.S. are seeking build alternatives to production of critical equipment in China in the wake of the global pandemic. First came the U.S.-China “trade war,” with Washington encouraging American companies to leave China and bring manufacturing back home. Then COVID-19 struck, halting the flow of medical equipment and other goods and laying…
Taiwan’s initiative in easing restrictions on imports of U.S. beef and pork should bolster its case in favor of a bilateral trade agreement. President Tsai Ing-wen’s August 28 announcement that Taiwan’s restrictions on the import of American pork and beef would be relaxed made clear that the objective was to clear the way for Taiwan…
