Members in the News – Costco Wholesale Taiwan

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U.S.-based Costco Wholesale Corp. has confirmed that it will become the sole owner of Costco in Taiwan after it bought out the remaining 45% stake from Kaohsiung-based President Group. (Read the news coverage here.) AmCham is proud of our member Costco Wholesale Taiwan’s commitment to the Taiwan market.

Since it first began operations in Kaohsiung 25 years ago, Costco has now opened 14 outlets across the island. Not only is this American retail giant wildly popular among Taiwanese – three out of the 14 stores rank among the firm’s most profitable branches – it is also worth noting that the firm and its leadership have been stalwarts of the AmCham community. A few facts about Costco’s involvement with the Chamber:

  • Costco has been a loyal and generous member of AmCham Taiwan since 2000.
  • The company has also been a strong supporter of AmCham events, publications, and industry committee agendas. Its General Merchandising Manager, Peggy Liao, is currently a co-chair of AmCham’s Retail Committee.
  • Costco has strived to improve the business environment in Taiwan. It has authored parts of the Chamber’s annual White Paper and been actively involved in discussions with Taiwan and U.S. government officials.
  • Costco’s Senior Vice President – Asia, Richard Chang, has been an inspirational figure in Taiwan’s business community. Chang gives back to society through his book Coaching Yourself and his mentorship of budding talent, including through his recent appearance as a speaker for the AmCham NextGen Program. Chang’s charisma and life story have captivated countless young leaders in Taiwan.

Members in the News – Intuitive Surgical Sarl Taiwan Branch (Switzerland)

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Intuitive Surgical has performed over 10 million robotic-assisted surgical procedures worldwide by surgeons using the Da Vinci Surgical System. The cutting-edge medical technology has helped many patients in Taiwan. It is not, however, affordable for everyone. Even though Intuitive’s training footprint and hospital installations are growing across the island, dozens of essential surgical procedures remain excluded from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance. To include advanced medical technologies of this kind in the national coverage would benefit many of its citizens.

AmCham Taiwan has long been an advocate for advanced health technologies that have not been widely accepted in Taiwan. The Chamber co-hosts the Citizen’s Health Forum, Healthy Aging Forum, U.S.-Taiwan Liver Health Forum, and Healthcare Innovation Forum to promote new medical devices and procedures to the Taiwanese government. The Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) that AmCham had supported in the White Paper for years was finally accepted by Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration in 2022.

Read A Breakthrough for Medical Devices in Taiwan Business TOPICS.

AmCham continuously seeks out opportunities to work with the U.S. and Taiwan authorities to reform healthcare regulations. We hope that a large number of patients will receive better care with more options of medical treatments.

We wish Intuitive Surgical Sarl Taiwan Branch (Switzerland) Vice President and General Manager Jason Yang and his impressive team continued success!

Members in the News – 2022 Forbes Travel Guide Star Award winners

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A big congratulations to all these AmCham member companies which were selected to be 2022 Forbes Travel Guide Star Award winners:

Mandarin Oriental in Taipei
Regent Taipei
Taipei Marriott Hotel
W Taipei
Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Taipei
Grand Hyatt Taipei

For more detail, see here.

Members in the News – GIS Group

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Read here how GIS Group and its CEO, Jason Yeh, an active member of AmCham Taiwan and co-chair of the Tourism and Travel Committee made waves, and a cultural statement, while unveiling a first-of-its kind international exhibition center in Tainan on April 21.

In the months and years to come, you will be hearing more about this significant economic development initiated by the Bureau of Foreign Trade and Tainan City Government. The center will be operated by GIS.

In this first in a series known as Members in the News, AmCham Taiwan provides supplemental color on a few of our many dynamic members who are regularly hitting the headlines with significant commercial news from and with Taiwan. And please scroll down for some background on our first Member in the News, GIS.

THE FIRM: ICC Tainan joins convention and meeting venues operated by GIS across Taiwan. They offer a range of spaces including the hip Nangang Bottle Cap Factory (POPOP Taipei). GIS Group provides a total meeting solution, from face-to-face, virtual, and hybrid meeting management to congress organization, AV equipment rental, and interpreting.

THE MEMBER: An AmCham Taiwan member since December 2015, GIS has been a driver of the Travel & Tourism Committee and is currently advocating visa normalization and responsible reopening of Taiwan for international business. Look for them next in the Transportation & Logistics and Healthcare Committees.

THE PHILOSOPHY: More than a MICE practitioner, GIS is passionate about destination marketing and authentically represents cultures where it operates, while promoting sustainability. GIS’ values jumped out in the stirring performances arranged for 600 guests at the ICC Tainan opening. First, elementary students sang in the once-lost language of the Siraya people – the ones who gave Taiwan its name. Then, the region’s seafaring and international connections – from fishing to Dutch settlement – were evoked by the Billy Chang dancers.

BOTTOM LINES:

  • A pioneer in Taiwan meetings and events since 1991; first Taiwanese company to run government-built Convention and Exhibition Center.
  • Breaking new ground in connecting southern Taiwan to the world and vice versa.
  • Advocate and thought leader around more inclusive and sustainable ways to build a modern tourism industry and business events in Taiwan.