Despite taking a hit from the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of e-commerce, brick-and-mortar retailers may soon see a rebound as AI and smart retail solutions allow them to integrate online and offline capabilities. While the popularity of e-commerce has allowed it to more or less overtake the labor-intensive conventional retail industry, a number of…
A bi-weekly snapshot of Taiwan business news stories brought to you by CommonWealth and AmCham Taipei’s TOPICS Costco unveils second Taichung location The grand opening of American multinational retailer Costco’s 14th Taiwan location place on November 20. Costco’s new outlet, the second to be opened in Taichung, is unique for specializing in yachts and designer…
Several local startups are developing products aimed at reducing the massive amount of single-use plastics consumed on the island. Taiwan has a dismal recycling rate for single-use plastics. In fact, of the approximately 16 billion plastic bags that Taiwan goes through each year, fewer than 10% are recycled, says Jason Huang, co-founder of Re-Think, a…
A bi-weekly snapshot of Taiwan business news stories brought to you by CommonWealth and AmCham Taipei’s TOPICS TSMC begins recruitment for Arizona fab The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) began posting job listings on LinkedIn in early November for its planned 5nm fab in Arizona. Positions at the fab fall into at least 10 categories,…
A bi-weekly snapshot of Taiwan business news stories brought to you by CommonWealth and AmCham Taipei’s TOPICS Sales of iPhone 12 predicted to set record Apple’s newest offering, the iPhone 12, went on sale in Taiwan on October 23. Taiwan’s three largest telecoms operators – Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, and Far EasTone – have indicated…
Formosa Plastics founder Wang Yung-ching failed at building a car business, but his failure laid the groundwork for the country’s successful Tesla supply chain. What are Taiwan’s advantages in the electric vehicle age? The global automotive industry is experiencing a paradigm shift, sending Tesla’s stock price soaring and big Taiwanese manufacturers scrambling to expand their…
A bi-weekly snapshot of Taiwan business news stories brought to you by CommonWealth and AmCham Taipei’s TOPICS Smart Manufacturing Alliance Established On October 6, two of Taiwan’s foremost industrial associations, the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI) and the Taiwan Electric and Electronics Manufacturing Association (TEEMA), announced the formation of the Taiwan Smart Manufacturing Alliance…
A bi-weekly snapshot of Taiwan business news stories brought to you by CommonWealth and AmCham Taipei’s TOPICS Bicycle Manufacturers See Major Change of Fortunes in Second Half As markets in the West have successively reopened, skyrocketing demand for bicycles and components has left manufacturers in Asia scrambling to keep up. Orders are backed up through…
Strong demand for the service could help offset the hit to Uber’s ride-hailing business as a result of the pandemic. The two aspects of Uber’s operations in Taiwan show the very different effects that the coronavirus pandemic can have on business. With few foreign tourists around since Taiwan closed its borders to non-residents on March…
Starting a business is no easy task, especially if, like Z&A Managing Director William Zyzo, you’re a foreigner in Taiwan with a background in the humanities. Nevertheless, he has found joy in the challenges of launching and consistently revamping his management solutions company in his adopted home of Taipei. A dedicated lifelong learner, William has…
