AmCham Taiwan Healthy Aging Forum:
2025健康台灣樂齡論壇:公私協力促進全人健康
AmCham Taiwan Healthy Aging Forum:
2025健康台灣樂齡論壇:公私協力促進全人健康
Committee Events & Luncheons
In this year’s White Paper, the Committee offers recommendations aimed at improving policies and fostering closer collaboration between industry stakeholders and regulatory bodies in Taiwan. These recommendations are crucial for promoting transparency, efficiency, and international cooperation within the business landscape.
Key suggestions include amending contractual frameworks for legal clarity, attracting international expertise in government procurement processes, bolstering infrastructure development in critical sectors such as ports and grids, and establishing platforms for closer engagement between the government and member companies of AmCham Taiwan.
Boosting market participant confidence in infrastructure investments will enhance Taiwan’s investment profile and attractiveness and facilitate further investment in critical infrastructure for Taiwan’s economic activity and output. Such investments will promote reliable grid performance and support the creation of a low-carbon manufacturing environment. Simultaneously, it will meet the needs of Taiwan’s residential and industrial user bases, aligning with broader economic and environmental goals.
Through these initiatives, the Committee aims to drive positive change and create a conducive environment for sustainable growth and partnership. We urge the government to consider the following:
Suggestion 1: Remove the reference to Article 227-2 of the Civil Code from Public Construction Committee model contracts.
In our 2023 White Paper submission, we emphasized the critical need for fair and balanced terms and conditions in the Public Construction Committee’s (PCC) model contracts, aligned with standard international practices. This alignment is essential to create a healthy commercial framework that supports foreign and domestic companies participating in public project tenders in Taiwan.
The Committee has observed that among the 12 types of PCC model contracts, 10 include amendments under the “Rights and Liability” clause as outlined in Article 227-2 of the Civil Code. Citing that article in the PCC model contracts inappropriately exempts injurious performance from the total liability cap, a deviation from the clause’s original intent. This deviation raises concerns about the balance of rights and responsibilities between project owners and contractors and its implications for contractors engaging in public projects under these contracts. Previously, the clause was crafted to limit exemptions to instances of “willful misconduct or gross negligence, or torts against a third party.” The broadened conditions now introduced by Article 227-2 undermine the foundational legal principles of balanced rights and responsibilities intended to govern the contracts.
Moreover, the language introduced is vague and starkly contrasts with the conditions set in internationally recognized model contracts, such as those from the New Engineering Contract and the International Federation of Consulting Engineers. Such misalignment with standard international practices may deter foreign companies from participating in public tenders in Taiwan. This result would be particularly unfortunate given Taiwan’s ambitious infrastructure and energy initiatives, which greatly benefit from the expertise of international engineering and construction contractors.
We strongly recommend that the government remove this newly added text from the 10 revised model contracts to encourage more international companies to join Taiwan’s infrastructure industry.
Suggestion 2: Create a friendlier environment for international engineering, procurement, and construction firms and developers to participate in government procurement.
Various obstacles discourage participation in Taiwan by international engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms, as highlighted in the previous White Paper. Measures that could help remedy this situation include aligning model contract terms with international practices to create balanced and fair terms, issuing more public construction-related documents in both English and Chinese, adopting alternative tendering, using a more advantageous tender approach rather than low price selection in the tendering process, and employing cash-neutral payment terms.
To promote more international engagement in the local market, enabling Taiwan to reap the benefits of global EPC methods, innovations, and technologies, the Committee urges that the government:
2.1 Extend the procurement tendering cycle. Extending the tendering cycle would support greater engagement and innovation. The timespan typically allocated for developing a price proposal is 2-3 months, which is not enough time to fully evaluate the project particulars and develop a firm fixed price (often over a billion U.S. dollars for larger power projects). The short tendering period may discourage contractors from participating or cause them to add a price contingency to cover the scope uncertainty. The short duration also hinders the ability of firms to develop and offer alternatives and value-engineering proposals that could shorten the construction schedule and lower the project’s overall cost.
The Committee suggests ensuring that the procurement cycle on critical energy projects provides sufficient time for bidders to properly evaluate the project particulars and develop a robust, cost-efficient proposal.
2.2 Encourage early contractor involvement. To foster innovation, the Committee urges the government to invite the industry to peer review critical gas-to-power project particulars well before releasing the formal project request for proposal (RFP) package. Early contractor involvement (ECI) allows the contracting community to be engaged at an early stage of the project, enabling it to provide value-engineering suggestions and innovations for incorporation into the RFP package. Studies have shown that the ECI approach results in significant cost and schedule savings. ECI is a common international practice for optimizing project costs and schedules.
2.3 Provide “cash neutral” payment terms. Delivering a project worth over a billion U.S. dollars can be a financial challenge. International practice is for the owner to provide a payment scheme enabling the contractor to maintain a “cash neutral” rather than “cash negative” cash flow. The justification for this approach is that the cost of funds is typically lower for a government entity than for a private contractor. When there is a negative cash flow, the owner bears the cost of financing in the form of a higher proposal price. And capable, selective contractors will likely turn away from the projects.
Suggestion 3: Ensure needed port and grid infrastructure development.
This recommendation builds upon Suggestion 4 from last year’s White Paper. The Committee appreciates the flexibility shown by the Taiwan International Port Corp. (TIPC) in changing the operational rules to expedite construction activities for offshore wind farm projects. However, we request that the TIPC exercise flexibility regarding the current inland transportation time restrictions.
The Port of Taichung, which serves as the primary hub for domestic wind turbine manufacturing and pre-assembly, restricts transportation of wind turbine components to the hours between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. While the Committee acknowledges the potential traffic disruptions caused by the transport of such large assemblies, this stringent time restriction significantly hinders the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of offshore wind projects. Adjusting these restrictions could markedly improve project timelines and reduce costs, thereby facilitating the growth of renewable energy initiatives.
The Committee is eager to collaborate with the relevant government agencies to devise a more adaptable approach that addresses the needs of all stakeholders involved in offshore wind farm projects. We propose the creation of a regular meeting platform to maintain ongoing dialogue. These discussions should focus on the unique technological and logistical requirements of floating offshore wind projects and the challenges related to grid infrastructure.
Additionally, the engagement with the government on battery energy storage system (BESS) matters will aim to address policy challenges currently observed in Taiwan’s balancing power market, including the negative impacts on the investment climate and opportunities for improvement.
Furthermore, we suggest that the government earmark specific land areas to support large-scale renewable energy projects. This action would significantly boost the sector’s expansion and efficiency and enhance investment certainty for stakeholders in Taiwan’s BESS infrastructure.
3.1 Enhance port infrastructure to support floating offshore wind project development.
The Committee notes that port and wharf requirements are continually changing. For example, while current technical specifications may be adequate for fixed-bottom offshore wind farm projects, Taiwan’s floating offshore wind projects face significant challenges due to this insufficient port infrastructure, leading to notable technological and logistical complications. The Committee urges the government to support measures toward floating offshore wind projects through a cross-ministerial platform.
3.2 Strengthen grid resilience and establish a reasonable cost-sharing mechanism.
The Committee acknowledges the government’s efforts in implementing a resilient, long-term grid upgrade plan. Under this plan, the current payment mechanism stipulates a 50% payment before obtaining the Commercial Operation Date permit, while the remaining 50% is due before receiving the Electrical Business License. This structure, particularly during the construction phase, significantly impacts developers’ capital expenditure. To alleviate financial pressure and support smoother project execution, we propose adopting a more flexible mechanism that extends beyond grid connection completing such as a 20-year installment payment plan. The reserve capacity should also be maintained flexibly, and the calculation method should be communicated to relevant stakeholders. Such an arrangement would facilitate better cash flow management and potentially enhance project viability. We further recommend that a third-party organization review the calculation basis for each mentioned mechanism annually.
3.3 Enhance Taiwan’s BESS infrastructure and energy balancing markets. The development of ancillary infrastructure for renewable energy and BESS is crucial for achieving Taiwan’s net-zero emissions target by 2050. Enhancing the development and promotion of renewable energy to meet its construction goals is essential for revitalizing market confidence in the BESS sector and sustaining investment in Taiwan’s energy market.
To address structural and current challenges within Taiwan’s BESS infrastructure and energy balancing market, we urge the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) to implement the following five recommendations:
3.4 Establish a cross-ministerial platform for dialogue and solutions.
To accelerate the development of renewable energy, the Committee recommends the creation of a cross-ministerial platform that includes the MOEA, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of the Interior, and other relevant authorities. The purpose of this platform would be to assess and potentially lift restrictions imposed by different authorities on the use of various land types for renewable energy projects. The platform should also explore the feasibility of utilizing forestry lands, national parks, and other designated areas for such developments.
In addition, the Committee suggests establishing regulations that grant special status to areas surrounding wind farms to ensure maritime safety. This includes enforcing safe distances through legal measures. The proposed cross-ministerial platform should also review government-restricted or sensitive areas to improve planning efficiency. This will ensure that offshore wind power developers have accurate and comprehensive information during the pre-development phase, facilitating better decision-making and project execution.
Suggestion 4: Create platforms enabling regular communication and closer partnerships between industry and government stakeholders.
We reiterate our suggestion from last year’s White Paper on the critical importance of regularly scheduled face-to-face meetings between the Committee and relevant government stakeholders, including the PCC. Such meetings are vital for fostering mutual understanding and facilitating a more efficient resolution process, aligning actions with shared objectives. Furthermore, consistent dialogue is crucial to ensure that industry expertise and recommendations are fully integrated into decision-making processes. Such interactions not only enhance mutual comprehension but also strengthen collaborative efforts toward achieving common goals.
4.1 Include representatives of major foreign-invested companies on the government’s Carbon Fee Review Committee. By including foreign-invested companies, particularly members of AmCham’s ESG Committee, on the government’s Carbon Fee Review Committee, the government could leverage industry expertise in international practices, thereby enriching discussions on carbon fees. This participation would undoubtedly lead to more informed and effective policymaking. We strongly urge the Ministry of Environment to consider including AmCham in the consultation group for future meetings, ensuring that policy decisions benefit from diverse and expert perspectives.
4.2 Conduct regular meetings between the PCC and industry. The Committee aims to establish quarterly communication with the PCC to facilitate comprehensive deliberations. Through these meetings, both parties can deepen their understanding of the issues and collaborate toward developing suitable resolutions.
Suggestion 5: Provide bilingual versions of laws and supporting documents and enable the option to conduct mediations in English.
5.1 Ensure the provision of bilingual versions of laws, regulations, decrees, orders, and major interpretive letters implemented or issued by the PCC. The Committee appreciates the PCC’s efforts in translating key laws, regulations, decrees, rules, and orders. This initiative has significantly aided multinational suppliers (as defined under Article 8 of the Government Procurement Act) in gaining a better understanding and familiarity with the applicable legal requirements.
The Committee strongly encourages the PCC to extend these translations to include all relevant documents. This enhancement would not only assist multinational suppliers in adhering to regulatory compliance but would also improve the execution of government procurement projects and the administration or supervision by government agencies.
We further encourage the PCC to collaborate with foreign chambers of commerce in Taiwan, inviting them to recommend which documents should be prioritized for translation. While we have noted improvements in the translation of technical tender documents, we urge that more commercial documents also be translated into English to enhance accessibility and understanding for international participants. This initiative will support more inclusive participation and help foster a transparent business environment in Taiwan.
5.2 Offer the option to conduct mediation in English. The Committee recognizes that the mediation conducted by the Complaint Review Board of the PCC offers a time-efficient and cost-effective alternative dispute resolution mechanism for disputes arising from contract performance. Providing the option to conduct these mediations in English would allow multinational suppliers to more readily access the dispute resolution mechanisms commonly used by government agencies, thereby increasing their incentive to resolve disputes through the Complaint Review Board.
Creating a bilingual environment for executing government procurement projects will be instrumental in attracting outstanding multinational suppliers. The Committee therefore recommends that the PCC start with issuing formal documents, such as meeting minutes and recommendations proposed by the Complaint Review Board, in English at the request of the applicant. This approach will not only facilitate their participation but also enhance the overall success of these projects.
在今年的白皮書中,基礎建設及工程設計委員會提出了一系列重要建議,旨在改善政策並促進產業利害關係人(stakeholders)與相關主管機關之間更緊密的合作。這些建議對於促進商業環境透明度、效率和國際合作至關重要。
主要關鍵建議包括修改合約框架以增加法律上的明確性、吸引更多國際專家參與政府採購流程、強化關鍵領域的基礎建設發展,例如港口與電網等,並建立政府機構與台灣美國商會會員企業更緊密的溝通合作平台。
提高市場參與者對基礎建設的投資信心將提升台灣的投資形象和吸引力,並可促進對台灣經濟活動相當重要之關鍵基礎設施投資,從而提升電網的可靠性以及幫助台灣達成低碳環境的目標。除了滿足台灣民生和工業用戶的需求,同時也能與更宏觀的經濟和環境目標保持一致。藉由上述倡議,委員會旨在推動積極變革,營造能永續成長與合作的環境。我們敦促政府考慮以下建議:
建議一:將《民法》第227條第2項從契約範本中刪除
在2023年的白皮書中,委員會致力於讓行政院公共工程委員會(PCC)的契約範本中確立公平和平衡的條款及條件,並與國際實務一致,以建立一個對於參與台灣公共項目工程投招標的外國和本地公司都有益的商業結構環境。
委員會注意到,在12種類型的契約範本中,有10個仍然在「權利和責任」條款下增加了新的文本條文,以免除使《民法》第227條第2款,所規定範圍內的損害賠償責任項的加害給付損害賠償,不受損害賠償責任上限的限制,與該條款的原始意圖悖離。這種差異引起的擔憂包含計畫所有者和承包商之間權利和責任的平衡,也影響這些契約下參與公共計畫的承包商。以往該條款是為了將豁免範圍限制在「故意疏忽或重大過失,或對第三方的侵權行為」的情況下,而納入《民法》第227條第2款削弱了旨在管理這些契約的基本法律原則。
此外,新增的文本條文語意模糊不清,也與英國土木工程師協會(NEC)或國際諮詢工程師聯合會(FIDIC)等國際樣板合約契約範本中的條件款有所不同。這種偏離國際慣例的作法將只會阻礙外國公司參與台灣公共建設工程招標。考量因為台灣需要更多國際工程設計和建設施工承包商的參與,來幫助完成其雄心且宏觀的前瞻性基礎設施建設和能源項目計劃,這樣的結果尤其令人遺憾。
我們強烈建議政府將這些新增的文本條文從10個修改後的修訂契約範本中刪除,我們相信這樣的改變可以鼓勵更多的大型國際公司加入台灣的基礎設施建設行業。
建議二:建立一個對國際工程公司與開發商更加友善的投標環境
如同過往白皮書所述,國際統包商(EPC)在台灣參與投標時,往往遭遇各種不同的障礙。可採行的方法包括將標準合約中的條款向國際慣例看齊,以提供一個平衡及公允的商業條款、更多的雙語文件、允許以替代方案投標、捨棄以低價選商、而採用最有利標以及設計公平的付款條件以達到中性現金流等。為了吸引更多國際公司參與在地市場,讓台灣社會可以從國際統包商工法、創新及技術上得益,本委員會建議政府考慮引進以下做法:
2.1 延長等標期
適當的延長等標期可以鼓勵更大的參與和創新,一般公共工程標的等標期約為2至3個月,這對於全盤評估標單內容及估算一個統包價格往往是不夠的(以一個大型電力工程來說,通常超過10億美金)。太短的等標期會導致承包商由於不確定性過高而決定不參加投標,或額外加入風險成本,同時也妨礙承包商開發和提供替代方案或其他具價值的提議,通常此種替代方案會是節省成本及加快進度的方案。
本委員會建議在關鍵的能源項目招標時,考慮適當延長等標期,以便投標商能完善且仔細評估工程細節並提出有效且低成本的方案。
2.2 鼓勵工程公司及早介入
為了促進創新,本委員會敦促政府在公布建議書徵求文件前,事先邀請業界進行對關鍵煤氣電廠工程規畫進行同行評審。早期承包商介入評估(ECI)可以讓承包商在專案的初期階段參與其中,並提出具有價值的工程建議及創新方案,以便納入建議書徵求文件中。研究指出早期承包商介入評估的做法可以帶來可觀的成本與時間的壓縮。早期承包商介入已經是國際上為了優化成本和進度的普遍作法。
2.3 將付款節點訂為「現金中性」
建造一個價值10億美金的重大工程,對任何一間公司的財務週轉是一大挑戰。 國際慣例的做法是由業主提供一個能讓承包商現金流保持「現金中性」 而不是「負現金流」的付款條件。此一慣例的原因是基於一般政府的現金成本低於私營承包商,當合約中付款條件是負現金流時,承包商理當會把較高的現金成本計入標價中,使得有餘力挑選標案的優良承包商也將會會退出。
建議三:確保適當的港口電網的基礎設施發展
本建議建立在去年白皮書的第四條建議之上。委員會感謝台灣港務股份有限公司(TIPC)改變作業規則以加速離岸風電(OWF)項目建設活動方面所展現的靈活性。然而,委員會要求台灣港務股份公司在目前實施內陸運輸的時間限制方面得以展現靈活性。
台中港一直是國內風力發電機製造和預組裝的主要樞紐。風力發電機零組件的陸上運輸僅允許在晚間9點至早上6點之間進行。雖然委員會理解運輸這些大型零組件可能對周圍道路和交通造成潛在影響,但這種硬性的時間限制顯著影響了離岸風電計畫的時間和成本。
委員會希望與相關政府機關合作,討論更可行且能解決所有離岸風電計畫利害關係人之需求的方法。我們提議定期舉辦會議以保持對話暢通,首要的討論項目為漂浮式離岸風電計畫的技術和物流要求,以及電網基礎設施的問題。
此外,我們建議政府規劃特定的土地區域來支持大規模的再生能源項目。這一措施將顯著促進產業的擴展和效率,並提高利害關係人對台灣電池儲存系統基礎設施的投資穩定性。
3.1 加強港口基礎設施以支持浮動式離岸風電計畫的發展
委員會發現港口和碼頭的要求不斷變化。舉例而言,目前的技術可能對於固定式離岸風電計畫是足夠的,但對於未來的浮動式離岸風電計畫則明顯不足。台灣的浮動式離岸風電計畫面臨著港口基礎設施的不足,導致技術和物流問題需要克服。委員會敦促政府通過跨部門平台針對浮動式離岸風電計畫採取支持措施。
3.2 加強電網韌性並建立合理的成本分擔機制
我們肯定政府推進韌性和長期電網升級計劃方面所付出的努力。然而,我們建議應實施合理的成本分擔機制,例如電網串接完成後20年的分期付款計劃。備轉容量也應保持彈性,並與相關利害關係人溝通計算方法。我們也同時建議每年由第三方組織審查上述機制的計算基礎,以確保公平和合理。
3.3 加強台灣的電池儲能系統(BESS)基礎設施和能源平衡市場
為了實現2050年台灣淨零排放的目標,再生能源和電池儲能系統(BESS)的發展至關重要。加強發展和推廣再生能源,以確保達到預定的建設目標,對於振興市場對電池儲能系統相關產業的信心,並持續投資台灣能源市場至為重要。
為了應對台灣電池儲能系統(BESS)基礎建設和能源平衡市場中的結構性以及當前挑戰,我們敦促經濟部實施以下五項建議:
3.4 建立跨部門對話和解決方案平台
為了加快再生能源的發展,委員會建議建立一個由經濟部、農業部和內政部及相關機構組成的跨部會平台。其目的是尋求鬆綁不同部會對於法規限制的可能性,應探索利用林地、國家公園和其他指定區域進行此類發展的可行性。
此外,委員會建議制定法規,賦予風力發電場周邊地區的特殊地位,以確保海上安全,包括通過法律訂定安全距離。通過這個平台,可以審查政府限制或敏感區域,從而提高規劃效率。將確保離岸風電計畫之開發商在預開發階段掌握正確且完整的資訊,加速決策過程與計畫執行。
建議四:建立促進行業和政府利害關係人緊密合作的定期溝通平台
委員會在去年的白皮書中提出,強調委員會與相關政府利害關係人之間持續且定期之面對面會議的重要性,其中也包含行政院公共工程委員會。這些會議旨在培養相互理解,並簡化解決問題的過程以確保與共同目標的一致性。此外,與相關政府機構定期舉行對話確保產業專家的建議有被納入政策制定的過程。
4-1 將主要外資企業代表納入政府碳費費率審議會
委員會建議可納入外資企業,尤其是台灣美國商會ESG委員會的公司納入政府的碳費費率審議會,以提供直接的反饋和國際實踐方面的見解。會員公司的參與無疑可以幫助政府做出明智的政策決策。我們強烈建議環境部考慮納入台灣美國商會代表在未來的會議諮詢小組中,確保政策決策能夠得到多元和專業的觀點。
4-2 舉行公共工程委員會與產業界的定期會議
委員會旨在與公共建設委員會建立每季度的溝通平台以促進雙邊交流。透過這些會議,雙方可以深化對於問題的理解,並共同合作制定適當的解決方案。
建議五:提供雙語版本的法律和支援文件,並提供用英語進行調解的選項
5.1 確保公共工程委員會發布雙語版本的法律、法規、法令、命令和行政函釋
委員會感謝公共工程委員會在翻譯重要法律、法規、法令、規則和命令方面的努力,並顯著地幫助了國際廠商(依據《政府採購法》第8條的定義)更好地理解和熟悉適用法律要求。
委員會強烈鼓勵公共工程委員會擴大翻譯範圍,涵蓋所有相關文件。此一改進不僅將有助於國際供應商遵守法規要求,亦將改善政府採購項目的執行以及政府機構的管理或監督。
委員會亦鼓勵公共工程委員會邀請駐台灣之外國商會,商討文件翻譯的優先順序。我們注意到技術招標文件在這方面的進程,希望也能看到更多翻譯成英文的商業文件。此一創舉將支持更具包容性的參與,有助於建立台灣的透明商業環境。
5.2 提供以英語進行調解的選項
委員會認可由公共工程委員會採購申訴審議委員會執行的調解程序,為履約爭議提供一個提升時間及成本效率的替代性爭端處理機制。提供該等調解程序得以英語進行的選項,將使國際廠商更容易地使用此一受政府機關廣泛使用的爭端處理機制,進而增加國際廠商透過採購申訴審議委員會解決爭議的誘因。
為政府採購案件創造一個雙語的環境將有助於吸引傑出的國際廠商。因此,委員會建議公共工程委員會開始依申請者所提之需求,以英文發布正式文件,例如會議紀錄或採購申訴審議委員會所提之調解建議。此一方式不但能促進國際廠商的參與度,更能提升這些案件的整體成功率。