Although Europe and the U.S. are experiencing a devastating second wave of COVID-19 cases, Taiwan recently marked 200 days without a local infection. This feat was no accident, and much credit can be given to the hard work of Taiwan’s public health authorities, notably the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) headed by Minister of Health and Welfare Chen Shih-chung. The Taiwanese public has tuned in since late January to daily press briefings from Minister Chen and his colleagues at the CECC. He has since become a veritable celebrity in Taiwan, with memes of his likeness spread across the internet, heavy coverage in the local press, and an appearance on the cover of GQ Taiwan in September.

AmCham Taipei was therefore delighted and humbled to invite Minister Chen to speak at a special luncheon at the Grand Hyatt on October 30. During his speech, he stressed Taiwan’s experience combating SARS as a major factor in its preparedness for subsequent virus outbreaks. Yet he also noted the challenges of fighting COVID-19, whose symptoms are often less acute or consistent across patients. And while SARS was contained relatively quickly before it could spread much beyond Asia, the current coronavirus has seeped into every continent besides Antarctica and does not look likely to end before a vaccine is developed.

Minister Chen also noted that besides providing people with regular updates on the status of the pandemic in Taiwan, his team’s daily press briefings were successful in another way: dispelling mis/disinformation. After Taiwan experienced an initial outbreak of COVID-19 in the early months of 2020, misinformation regarding masks and other necessities, as well as more sinister disinformation campaigns about infection numbers and death rates, began to proliferate online. In each case, the CECC was able to quickly counter the false claims and keep the public correctly informed.

At the end of his speech, Minister Chen answered several questions from the audience, the largest gathered since AmCham began its Meet the Minister series this year. The Chamber is incredibly grateful to Minister Chen and his colleagues at the Ministry of Health and Welfare for their immense efforts in keeping Taiwan’s public safe and healthy during these unprecedented times.

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New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih on February 7 outlined his plans and vision for the city at an AmCham Taipei luncheon at the Grand Hyatt Taipei.

Speaking in Mandarin, Hou encouraged AmCham member companies to invest in New Taipei, emphasizing that Taiwan’s most populous city in Taiwan has been developing an ever more sustainable environment.

He highlighted five major projects that his administration has been working to improve the city’s infrastructure:

• Making the “Three Axes” – the Xinban Special District, Xinzhuang Fuduxin, and Sanchong District (新板特區、副都心及三重第二行政中心等三大軸心) – the center of the greater Taipei area.
• Remediating the Wugu Landfill (整治五股垃圾山).
• Conducting the Wen Zai Zhen Urban Land Consolidation Project (塭仔圳重劃案).
• Carrying out Urban Renewal (都市更新).
• Completing the Taipei MRT Circular Line (捷運三環六線).

Hou also noted that he is striving to elevate both the quality and quantity of educational institutions in New Taipei City, including public pre-schools. He said his aim is to make New Taipei “a city with warmth.”

Hou also told the AmCham audience that increasing numbers of young talent are moving into New Taipei City, creating a conducive environment for attracting investment opportunities.

In this photo: AmCham President William Foreman; New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih; and AmCham Governors.

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Note: AmCham events are intended primarily for AmCham members and their guests. Many events are open to members’ guests and other non-members, but the attendance of any non-member must be approved in advance. AmCham reserves the right not to admit a non-member to any event without explanation.

The trade friction between the U.S. and China is causing many Taiwanese companies in China to move all or part of their operations back to Taiwan – and the Taiwan government is doing its utmost to mobilize resources to provide them with necessary assistance.

That was the key message in Economics Minister Shen Jong-Chin’s presentation to AmCham Taipei members at a Chamber luncheon meeting in the ballroom of the Regent Taipei on August 20.  Among the Minister’s key points:

• The current situation presents a promising opportunity for Taiwan. Already the government has approved 111 investment cases from Taishang (the term for Taiwanese companies operating on the mainland) and more are coming. The government anticipates that more than 90,000 jobs will be created in Taiwan.
• The Ministry of Economic Affairs has set up a one-stop service center under its InvesTaiwan office to ensure that interested companies receive rapid and efficient service. The government is seeking to help companies solve any problems arising from the “five shortages” of land, power, water, labor, and talent.
• Currently land is not a big obstacle, as many of the returning companies had kept additional production facilities in Taiwan when they invested on the mainland. But it could become more of a concern if the number of returning companies rises considerably. The government is therefore preparing more industrial zones where land or factory buildings will be available on a rental basis.
• Working through local banks, the government is also making loans available to companies at preferential rates to encourage their return or expansion in Taiwan.
• The major sectors being affected are industrial clusters for notebook computers and other ICT products, bicycles, and auto parts. The domestic machinery industry is also receiving increased orders as a result of this trend.
• Some of the Taishang departing China are choosing to relocate to Southeast Asian countries or India. MOEA is also using its contacts and experience to help companies moving to those areas.

Before the speech, Minister Shen also participated in a half-hour meeting to exchange ideas with representatives from several of AmCham’s industrial groups, including the Energy, Technology, and Infrastructure Committees, and the Digital Economy Taskforce.