The private certification program helps companies develop core values and policies that benefit all stakeholders. A growing worldwide trend for companies to certify their commitment to sustainability and accountability has also been gaining traction in Taiwan. Within the past three years, 27 Taiwanese companies have received B Corporation (also known as B Corp) certification, more…
Licenses Approved for Three Online-only Banks The Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) on July 30 approved applications for operating licenses submitted by three online-only banks, despite having previously stated that such authorization would be limited to two banks this year. FSC Chairman Wellington Koo announced that the licenses will be issued to Next Bank, whose majority…
Larger established companies are now among the prospective clients, not just startups. In a new trend in the global coworking industry, a number of major space providers are moving away from the original model of flexible, communal workplaces mostly geared toward entrepreneurs, remote workers, and startups. The new business plan offers comprehensive, customized workplace solutions…
Increases to the minimum wage, lower birth rates, and an aging population are leading to higher costs and labor shortages for retailers. Will automation save the day? There’s a rather whimsical image of Taiwan floating around online. Entitled “Actual View of an Average Taiwanese Street,” it shows a few cartoon figures walking around a landscape…
Joanna Yao has been responsible for the Taiwan market for Baxter Healthcare since 2015 and is a co-chair of AmCham Taipei’s Medical Devices Committee. In June 2018, Baxter appointed her as Cluster VP, Southeast Asia, in addition to her role as General Manager for Taiwan. Below is an edited and condensed interview with her conducted…
Bid for 3rd Terminal Fails Once Again In June, a tender for the contract to construct a third terminal for the Taoyuan International Airport failed to attract any bidders for the third time, despite efforts by the airport corporation to offer improved conditions. As a result, Taiwan’s CECI Engineering Consultants Inc. and its partner in…
Amended transportation regulations could cripple the ride-hailing giant’s Taiwan business, sending a worrying message about the investment climate. Uber has struggled in East Asia. The San Francisco-based ride-hailing giant burned through billions of dollars battling China’s Didi Chuxing before bowing out of the Chinese market in 2016. It never gained a foothold in Japan or…
The home-sharing company’s business has grown steadily while it has largely dodged penalties for hosting unlicensed properties on its platform. For years, Airbnb and Taiwanese regulators have been playing a cat-and-mouse game. Local regulations limit short-stay accommodation rentals to licensed hotels or inns, but most Taiwan properties listed on the home-sharing platform do not meet…
As retail sales spike upward, new-style outlets and malls cater to millennial shoppers who want entertainment and Instagram-friendly backdrops more than bargain-basement prices. It’s a golden age for outlets and malls in Taiwan, with a number of brassy mega projects completed and more developments on the horizon. Despite the rapid growth of online retailing, people…
The types of facilities reflect changes taking place in the make-up of Taiwan’s tourism market. New hotels are continuing to open in Taiwan while the composition of the local tourism market goes through some major changes. Though tour groups from China used to account for a large proportion of the visitors to the island, tensions…
