Over 70 years, AmCham Taiwan has provided leadership and partnership on Taiwan’s journey from a modest Asian economy to a global economic powerhouse. That has required organizational leadership, stability, and a robust membership to drive success. As AmCham Taiwan celebrates its 70th anniversary, Taiwan has never been more relevant and central to the geo-strategic and…
Hearty congratulations to current and past AmCham members and staff on your 70th anniversary! Countless fond memories wash through my mind as I look back on my years at AmCham’s helm. Then, and now, the Chamber has played a key role in Taiwan’s economic and commercial success, both as participant and cheerleader. Behind the Chamber’s…
A highlight of my association with AmCham was our work on “Regulatory Coherence,” an umbrella term for efforts to make regulatory environments as participatory and transparent as possible. The result was Taiwan’s adoption of a 60-day Notice & Comment period to help ensure that stakeholders are sufficiently consulted about pending new rules. It was a…
It seems like yesterday that AmCham celebrated its 60th anniversary in the gorgeous historical-landmark building that is the Taipei Guest House, with its magically lighted garden, swans floating in the ponds, and well-groomed bonsai. The VIP guests were toasting and mingling in a convivial mood when one of the biggest storms of the season caused…
“Your first and second goals conflict with each other. Which one do you really want?” His words struck me for three reasons. First, they were abrupt. They hadn’t even been preceded by “hello.” Second, they were addressed to an AmCham chairperson by a senior U.S. senator who had told his staff he wanted to see…
As a trained economist, asset manager, and Chartered Financial Analyst, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to witness Taiwan’s dynamic economic growth first-hand from the time of my arrival in 1983 through my departure in 2000. What I observed was not only the extraordinary strength of the NT dollar but more importantly the impressive…
With the help of some key leaders from over the decades, the Chamber recollects developments that led to the organization’s current influential role regarding the Taiwan economy and U.S.-Taiwan trade relations. Over the decades, AmCham Taiwan’s role in communicating its members’ ideas for improving the business environment to the Taiwan and U.S. governments has been…
It is regarded as AmCham Taiwan’s finest hour. When President Jimmy Carter announced in December 1978 that the U.S. government would be terminating its diplomatic relations and defense treaty with Taiwan to “normalize” relations with China, the future make-up of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship was left undetermined. With the U.S. embassy in Taipei about to close…
By Jeffrey R. Williams | AmCham Chair 1997-98 One of the biggest challenges of my first year as Chairman of AmCham was handling the fallout from our first bilingual English-Chinese White Paper. The annual AmCham White Paper had traditionally been an English-only document, but that year the Chamber sought to broaden its reach by making…
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…
