happy Monday! Can you believe it is already July? Time seems to be racing by – a true reminder of how fleeting each moment is.

This year has brought many changes to our office. Last week, we bid farewell to our General Manager, Ms. Leonie Yang. As a token of our appreciation, our interns created a heartfelt goodbye video that captured the sweet spirit of our whole team. You can read more about it in our GTO News section.

Following last week's warm welcome of our new director, we are excited to announce the promotion of Ms. Linda Blechert. With nine years of dedicated service, she steps into her new role as General Manager of DEinternational Taiwan Ltd. today. Congratulations on this well-deserved promotion! Her full introduction can be found in our Top News.

Fast forward to the end of the month: Do not miss our GTO Wirtschaftsstammtisch & Machinery Panel Discussion networking event in Taichung on July 30! Join us for an evening of connection, insightful panel discussions, delicious buffet, and authentic German beer. Secure your spot today and experience the synergy of the German-Taiwanese business community. Sign up now via the registration link in our Top News.

For our subscribers in Germany, time is running out and only a few spots for our popular delegation trips are left! There is still time to register for two delegation trips: Firstly, we organize a delegation trip in the field of manufacturing processes that will take place in October. Read more about it in our GTO News. Secondly, we are organizing a delegation trip in the field of solar energy in September. You can sign up for this one in our Top News.

Speaking of delegations, our trip with the Silicon Saxony Day delegation has come to a successful end. Over eight days, we engaged with key semiconductor companies in Dresden, forging stronger ties between Taiwan and Germany’s semiconductor industries. Read the full report in our GTO News.

Similarly, our delegation trip from the Frankfurt region has concluded. The delegates spent the week strengthening their connections with the Taiwanese business community, exploring opportunities for collaboration in various industries. The summary can be found in our GTO News as well.

Finally, today is International Joke Day! Did you know that humor at work can boost your credibility and make you seem more competent? So go ahead and share a laugh with your colleagues today – it is beneficial for you and your team. Time to tickle some funny bones! It’s joke o’clock!

Kind regards,

German Trade Office Taipei

Exciting News from DEinternational Taiwan, our service unit! We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Linda Blechert as the new General Manager of DEinternational Taiwan Ltd. Linda has been doing amazing work as our Head of Governmental Affairs & GTO German Business Alliance, and now she is ready to take on this new role. Her deep knowledge and strong connections with government and German businesses are sure to boost German-Taiwanese economic relations.

Linda is fluent in Mandarin (she studied at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan) and holds an IMBA from National Chengchi University. She is well familiar with the cultural differences and knows how to connect with locals.

A bit about Linda:

• She is a passionate baker, always whipping up new cakes and cookies.
  
• Loves traveling around the island and exploring traditional Taiwanese shopping streets with unique handicrafts.
  
• You might find her in random coffee shops trying out new coffee creations and chatting with the locals.
  
• Big fan of Taiwanese chocolate and traditional breakfast spots.
  
• After living in Tainan for two years, she adores the city's chill vibe, sunny weather, and delicious food.
  

Linda says, "After more than 12 years in Taiwan, I’m super excited to start this new chapter as the General Manager of DEinternational Taiwan Ltd. The Taiwanese market has so much potential for German companies, and with our awesome team, we will keep strengthening the German-Taiwanese economic ties."

Let's give a warm welcome to Linda!

Vom 23.09. bis 27.09.2024 findet eine Geschäftsreise nach Taiwan für deutsche Unternehmen aus der Solarindustrie statt. Die fünftägige Reise besteht aus einer Fachkonferenz mit Unternehmenspräsentationen sowie individuellen B2B-Terminen mit potenziellen taiwanischen Geschäftspartnern und Entscheidungsträgern.

Die Reise richtet sich an deutsche Unternehmen aus dem Bereich Solarenergie, insbesondere mit Agri-PV und Solarthermie Lösungen. Ebenfalls willkommen sind Unternehmen aus dem Bereich Energiespeicherung sowie Firmen, die Taiwan als Beschaffungsmarkt für Solarprodukte entdecken möchten.

Taiwan hat bereits im Jahr 2016 eine Energiewende eingeleitet, die vorwiegend auf den Ausbau von Erneuerbaren setzt. Eine übergeordnete Rolle spielt dabei der Ausbau der lokalen Solarkapazitäten. So konnte der Anteil der installierten Kapazitäten im Bereich Solar PV von 2016 bis 2023 fast verneunfacht werden. Insgesamt verfügt Taiwan über 12,81 GW installierte Kapazitäten im Bereich Solar PV, davon sind 8,05 GW Aufdachanlagen und 4,76 GW auf Freiflächen installiert (Stand März 2024). Ziel der taiwanischen Regierung ist es, bis 2030 insgesamt 31 GW und bis 2025 sogar 40-80 GW installierte Solarkapazitäten aufgebaut zu haben. Um diese ambitionierten Ziele zu erreichen, sind innovative Lösungen aus dem Ausland besonders gefragt. Für deutsche Anbieter von Solartechnologien bietet Taiwan ein einzigartiges Marktumfeld, mit Einspeisevergütungen von 10 – 16 Eurocent pro kWh und starken Zugangsbeschränkungen für chinesische Wettbewerber.

Weitere Informationen und die Anmeldeunterlagen finden Sie auf der Website der Exportinitiative Energie. Den offiziellen Flyer finden Sie hier.

Bei Rückfragen stehen Ihnen Herr Kai Unger  ku@eclareon.com sowie unser Mitarbeiter Herr Philipp Molz molz.philipp@taiwan.ahk.de gerne zur Verfügung.

Supported by:

GTO Wirtschaftsstammtisch & Machinery Panel Discussion 
30.07.2024 | Location: Taichung

Last week, we bid farewell to Ms. Leonie Yang, who has been an integral part of our team for the past 12 years. She joined us as a Media and Communications Manager and was later promoted to General Manager of DEinternational Taiwan Ltd., where she excelled for the last 6 years. Most recently, she stepped up as our Acting Delegate of German Business and Head of Office, guiding us with dedication over the past 3 months.

Leonie's commitment to her work and her role as a beloved member of our team have left an indelible mark on all of us. To celebrate Leonie's time with us, we hosted a heartfelt farewell lunch with the entire team. Our interns created a touching goodbye video that brought both laughter and tears. Watch the video on our official Facebook page.

Wishing you all the best on your new adventure, you will be greatly missed!

Sichern Sie sich jetzt Ihre Teilnahme an einer Leistungsschau in Taiwan!

Wussten Sie, dass für den gesamten taiwanischen Fertigungssektor ein Umsatzrekord von 700 Mrd. Euro für 2024 prognostiziert wird? Taiwan beherbergt weltweit führende Fertigungsunternehmen in den Bereichen Halbleiter, Elektronik, Maschinen- und Anlagenbau, deren Entscheidungsträger:innen in Taiwan sitzen und die durch das Upgrade der Produktionsprozesse mit Industrie 4.0-Technologien ihre Konkurrenzfähigkeit sichern wollen.

Vom 21. bis 25. Oktober 2024 findet eine Leistungsschau für deutsche Unternehmen nach Taiwan statt. Die Reise wird vom Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz im Rahmen des Markterschließungsprogramms für KMU gefördert.

Sichern Sie sich jetzt Ihre Teilnahme für die Leistungsschau nach Taiwan und erschließen Sie den taiwanischen Markt für Industrie 4.0 wie Cloudplattformen, maschinelle Bildverarbeitung, BigData, Cybersecurity, Systemintegration, Robotik, 3D-Druck, AI und VR, um Ihren idealen Vertriebs- und Geschäftspartner zu finden und wertvolle Einblicke zu erhalten!

Weiterführende Informationen sowie einen Link zur Anmeldung finden Sie auf unserer Website. 

On June 27, we had the pleasure of participating in the Greater China Day in Munich, organized by IHK für München und Oberbayern and AHK Greater China. Over 300 participants joined to explore the latest business trends presented by high-ranking company representatives and recognized Greater China experts.

Our office proudly organized a break-out panel discussion focused on the Taiwanese semiconductor industry. Moderated by our colleague Ms. Linda Blechert, our esteemed panelists included:

• Mr. Mohammad Kabany, B-Horizon GmbH – Advisory Board Member of Bavarian Chips Alliance
• Mr. Benedikt Ernst, Vice President and Head of Strategy & Transformation for Electronics, Merck KGaA
• Ms. Anna-Lena Schuette, Deputy Head of Berlin Office, Senior Manager Public Policy of Infineon Technologies AG

Their discussion revolved around the complexity of semiconductor supply chains, the significance of TSMC's investment in Germany and the promising future of German-Taiwanese cooperation.

We thank our panelists and the dedicated teams at IHK München and AHK China for their great support, organization and collaboration.

Our delegation trip has reached its highlight on the last day, and we are grateful to the following companies in Dresden for hosting us:

HZDR: As a state research center, HZDR conducts application-based fundamental research, supporting joint projects with local enterprises.

Fraunhofer IPMS: A leading international research site, Fraunhofer IPMS shared their semiconductor R&D foresight and strategy with us and provided a fascinating window tour of their clean room.

X-FAB: Engaged in an intensive and active conversation with our delegation about the semiconductor market in both Taiwan and Germany, exchanging insights on the local industry ecosystem.

GlobalFoundries: GlobalFoundries discussed a market overview from local to global perspectives. The exchange was insightful and promising, setting expectations for future cooperation and development.

Over 8 days and 5 nights, our delegation has explored the historical and economic development of Dresden through a city tour, gained a deeper understanding of Dresden's investment environment via several insightful briefings and field tours, and connected with the local industry hub and community on Silicon Saxony Day and through various site visits. The exchange between Taiwan and Germany will help build a stronger semiconductor industry ecosystem and drive the European semiconductor industry into its next phase.

Our adventure has come to an end, but where we arrive is where we start. We will announce more semiconductor business delegations and seminars very soon. We sincerely welcome your participation. Next stops: SEMICON Taiwan in September and SEMICON Europe in November in Munich! Stay tuned.

For more information, please contact our colleague Ms. Venus Peng at 02-7735-7524 or via email at peng.venus@taiwan.ahk.de.

From June 10 – 12, we had the privilege to participate in the Taiwan Expo 2024, held in Europe for the first time. The event was a spectacular showcase of Taiwan's latest technologies, innovations, and achievements in the green, digital, and cultural sectors.

The expo featured innovations in various fields such as smart eco mobility, with mobile charging robots and advanced e-bike solutions, AI-driven devices and recreational technology, technological advancements in healthcare aimed at improving patient outcomes, innovative recycling and sustainable practices, and the latest in smart home solutions.

One of the key highlights of the event was the matchmaking session where over 60 meetings took place between companies and clusters. We also attended the Taiwan-EU Semiconductor forum, featuring high-profile speakers from major companies such as TSMC, MediaTek, and Fraunhofer, discussing expanding chip production, innovation in the automotive and AI semiconductor industry, and fostering skilled talent.

Dr. Jürgen Maurer from Germany Trade and Invest (GTAI) and our former colleague Ms. Leonie Yang shared valuable insights into the evolving economic landscape and the importance of the Taiwan-Germany trade relationship. They presented the practical aspects of EU-Taiwan business cooperation, emphasizing the strong economic ties between Germany and Taiwan.

"This Expo symbolizes our aspiration to open a new chapter in our relationship with Europe. The EU and Taiwan share the same vision for a safer and more sustainable world," said James C.F. Huang, Chairman at TAITRA.

We are grateful that we got to participate in such an eye-opening event and we are looking forward to seeing what next year’s Taiwan Expo has to offer.

From June 17 – 21, we had the pleasure of welcoming a high-ranking delegation from the Frankfurt region, Germany's international business hub along the two rivers Rhine and Main. Throughout the entire past week, the delegates were able to deepen their ties with the Taiwanese business community through several insightful visits to key industry players in the medical field, finance sector, as well as telecommunications. Additionally, the delegation paid a visit to the Medical Taiwan Expo, Taiwan’s leading global business and marketing platform for domestic and international medical equipment manufacturers. At the business dinner hosted by FrankfurtRheinMain, the delegates used the opportunity to further network with Taiwanese industry representatives in order to facilitate mutual cooperation and joint projects in the future.

The delegation was led by Mr. Ulrich Caspar, President of the Frankfurt am Main Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Frankfurt am Main). Among the other distinguished delegates from Germany were Mr. Eric Menges, CEO of FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH, Dr. Jürgen Ratzinger, Managing Director of International Affairs at Frankfurt am Main Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mr. Harald Fuchs, Director Greater China of FrankfurtRheinMain GmbH. Furthermore, we were honored to welcome senior industry representatives from the Frankfurt region in Taipei, including Mr. Marc Alexander Kaufmann, General Manager of Kaufmann & Sohn Packaging, Ms. Jianghong Pu-Kleene, General Manager of Vivens Consulting, and Mr. Marc Andre Runkel of Tantalus Holding GmbH.

With many critical industries such as the medical, automotive, IT, finance, and logistics sectors having established a tight-knit and time-proven network in the region, Frankfurt presents one of the most favorable business environments in the EU for investments from Taiwan. Correspondingly, the delegation trip has clearly shown that Taiwan’s industry landscape holds countless opportunities for businesses from Frankfurt to fruitfully establish connections. We therefore look forward to seeing closer cooperation between the two regions in the near future and hope to soon welcome the delegates in Taipei again!

From April 8-10, 2025, Messe Berlin will host Europe's leading event for digital health, DMEA. It brings together decision-makers from across the healthcare sector, including IT specialists, physicians, hospital and nursing care executives, and experts from politics, science, and research.

DMEA 2024 was a massive success, attracting over 800 exhibitors, more than 19,000 visitors, and nearly 300 speakers from around the globe. The event covered a wide range of topics beyond healthcare in Germany, such as patient care in Europe, the electronic patient record in Denmark, and AI transparency in Europe.

DMEA is an excellent platform for system and hardware/software vendors worldwide to seize market opportunities and engage with the digital healthcare community.

Don't miss your chance to be part of next year’s DMEA! To exhibit at DMEA 2025, please contact our colleague Mr. Pinchao Huang at 02-7735-7529 or huang.pinchao@taiwan.ahk.de for more information.

Mark your calendars for the world’s largest trade fair for consumer electronics and home appliances Join us at IFA 2024 as we celebrate its monumental 100th anniversary!

Date: September 6 – 10, 2024
Venue: Berlin, Germany

Experience the pulse of “innovation for all” right in the heart of Europe's most dynamic regional market. At IFA, witness the unveiling of the latest products from around the globe. With attendees from over 130 countries, IFA is the main hot spot for key retailers, buyers and experts from the industry and the media. Only IFA offers such a comprehensive overview of the international market.

But that's not all! Immerse yourself in the electrifying atmosphere with exhilarating outdoor spectacles and evening concerts featuring both local legends and international superstars.

What’s special about this year’s IFA 2024? It’s divided into two exhibition periods AND two exhibition zones:

1) IFA: September 6 – 10 at Messe Berlin

2) IFA Global Markets: September 8 – 10 at STATION Berlin

Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity! Exclusive Trade Visitor Tickets are on sale now! Sign up and don’t miss a beat!

Außenwirtschaftstag Hessen, 9. Juli 2024, Frankfurt am Main

Treffen Sie das Deutsche Wirtschaftsbüro Taipei (AHK Taiwan) zum persönlichen Beratungsgespräch beim 7. Außenwirtschaftstag Hessen am 9. Juli 2024 in Frankfurt am Main. Unsere Expertin Frau Linda Blechert bespricht Ihr individuelles Geschäftsvorhaben und gibt Tipps für einen erfolgreichen Markteinstieg. Darüber hinaus bietet der Außenwirtschaftstag zahlreiche Diskussionen und Fachvorträge zu aktuellen Themen des internationalen Handels sowie eine Fachmesse mit Partnern und Dienstleistern für das Auslandsgeschäft.

Anmelden können Sie sich bis zum 9. Juli hier.

GDP to Grow 4.36% on AI and Chips

Taiwan’s GDP is forecast to grow 4.36 percent year-on-year this year, as the economy is expected to benefit from rising exports and stable private investment, led by semiconductor companies and firms linked to the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting Co (元大投顧) said.

The forecast represents a 0.67 percentage point increase from its previous estimate of 3.69 percent in March, Yuanta said in a report. Major research institutes since April have raised their predictions for Taiwan’s economic growth this year, with the estimated growth ranging from 3 percent to 3.94 percent — higher than the average of 3.14 percent over the past 10 years.

(Last access: 27.06.2024 / Taipei Times)

Jobless Rates Dips to 24-year Low for May

Taiwan's jobless rate fell to its lowest level in May in 24 years because of its stable job market fueled by an economy that continues to gain steam, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS).

The unemployment rate fell 0.02 percentage points from a month earlier to 3.34 percent in May, the lowest level for the month since May 2000, when it was 2.78 percent, according to data compiled by the DGBAS. It was also the third straight month in which the unemployment rate fell, according to the DGBAS. After seasonal adjustments, the local jobless rate fell 0.04 percentage points from a month earlier to 3.35 percent, the lowest level since November 2000, when it was 3.23 percent, the data showed.

(Last access: 27.06.2024 / Focus Taiwan)

Taiwan Contractor Wins NT$17.7 Billion Bid for Hsinchu Desalination Plant

Major Taiwanese turnkey contractor CTCI secured a NT$17.7 billion (US$543 million) contract on Wednesday (June 26) to build a desalination plant in Hsinchu.

According to a CTCI (China Technical Consultants Inc.) press release, the company will collaborate with French Suez Group to construct Hsinchu plant, which is expected to produce 100,000 tons of water daily. Scheduled for completion in 2028, it is set to become Taiwan’s first large-scale desalination plant, per CNA.

The plant, to be built near Nanliao Fishing Harbor, is one of eight planned 10,000-ton class desalination plants prioritized by the government, per Liberty Times.

TSMC Obtains Approval for US$10.26bn Investment

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) obtained the government’s approval to inject an additional US$10.26 billion to finance the construction of its second fab in Kumamoto, Japan, and a second fab in Arizona, using advanced process technologies.

The Department of Investment Review approved TSMC’s investment applications on the basis that Taiwan remains a major technology and manufacturing hub for the chipmaker, which makes its most advanced chips at home, the company operates its research-and-development center here and the majority of its capacity remains in Taiwan.

The latest capital injections — US$5.26 billion for its Japanese venture Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Inc and US$5 billion for TSMC Arizona Corp — would help the chipmaker deepen its partnerships with local supply chains and recruitment of skillful talent, the department said in a statement.