Happy Monday! Have you had a nice and relaxing weekend? Last week was quite rainy in Taipei, which was a shame considering the surprisingly hot and sunny weather we had enjoyed the past few weeks. I hope you are all safe after the recent typhoon that hit Taiwan. The whole island had a tranquil week with two days off due to the typhoon.

We are excited to announce that we finally have a new reception desk! It perfectly matches our lobby with its sleek design and white finish. And of course, we have hired a lovely new receptionist, Ms. Annie Hung. Annie is fluent in three languages and has already become an invaluable part of our team. Read more about Annie in our GTO News.

Last Monday, we had an insightful meeting with Minister Mr. Li Meng of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC). The meeting focused on the importance of cooperation between Germany's industrial competence and Taiwan's ICT capabilities. You can read more about it in our GTO News.

As usual, we also have some events you can register for. Aside from our first GTO Wirtschaftsstammtisch in Taichung tomorrow evening, the 9th German-Taiwanese Smart Machinery Forum will take place in less than a month on August 22. This forum will explore the insights and showcase the developing advancements in the smart machinery industry of Taiwanese and German collaborations. Sign up now in our Top News section.

Another interesting event I would like to point out to you is the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK) taking place in New Delhi, India, from October 24 to 26. The APK takes place every two years and is a unique platform for a wide-ranging exchange on political, economic and social issues that characterize the dynamic development of Asia and the Pacific. See our Other News section for more information.

Fingers crossed that next week will be sunny and typhoon-free! And if it dares to rain, let's hope for a beautiful rainbow to brighten our days.

Kind regards,

With a bilateral trade volume of 22 billion US$ in 2023 and over 300 active German companies, Taiwan has established a strong economic partnership with Germany. Aside from being the world’s top supplier of semiconductor chips, Taiwan also plays a key role in the global market utilizing new AI technologies to transform the manufacturing industries and enhance the efficiency of German manufacturers. Moreover, Taiwanese and German companies are in strong joint efforts for a smarter march towards Industry 4.0, leading the way for intelligent industrial robots as the center stage to power the machinery industry.

This forum will explore the insights and showcase the developing advancements in the smart machinery industry of Taiwanese and German collaborations. Participants can expect enriching networking opportunities, gaining valuable industry insights, and the opportunity to explore business prospects in Taiwan.

The 9th German-Taiwanese Smart Machinery Forum will be held on August 22 at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1 and is organized by the Smart Machinery Promotion Office and the German Trade Office Taipei, in partnership with the Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association and supported by the Industrial Development Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, August 22
Time: 14:00 – 17:00 (registration from 13:30 – 14:00)
Venue: Meeting Room 403, Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1
Address: No.1, Jingmao 2nd Rd., Nangang District, Taipei City 11568, Taiwan
Event Language: English

Registration

GTO Wirtschaftsstammtisch & Machinery Panel Discussion 
30.07.2024 | Location: Taichung

9th German-Taiwanese Smart Machinery Forum
22.08.2024 | Location: Taipei

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. 

Annie is a graduate of Gakushuin Women's College in Tokyo, where she majored in Intercultural Communication. Her professional journey includes experience as an international medical coordinator as she is fluent in Mandarin, English, and Japanese. Annie brings a passion for cultural exchange to our office.

Throughout her gap years, she befriended many German exchange students, assisted them in learning Mandarin, and helped them adjust to life abroad. Recently, Annie took courses in “Teaching Chinese as a Second Language” at National Taiwan University. Annie is also actively learning German to further her contributions to cultural exchanges between Taiwan and Germany.

We are happy to have Annie on board and look forward to the vibrant energy and cultural insights she brings to our team.

Last Monday, we had an insightful meeting with Mr. Li Meng Yen, Minister of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC). Our colleagues Dr. Eva Langerbeck, Chief Representative & Executive Director, Ms. Linda Blechert, General Manager of DEinternational Taiwan Ltd., and Mr. Pinchao Huang, Senior Project Manager, represented our office.

Together with the minister, they engaged in discussions with Mr. Huang Yun-Gui, Director of the Department of Railway, Highway, and Road Safety, Mr. Young Cheng-Chung, Director General of the Railway Bureau, Mr. Tu Wei, Chairman of Taiwan Railway Corp. Ltd. (TRC), Mr. Zheng Guo-Xi, Taiwan Railway Corp. Ltd. and Mr. Chiu Yi-Ming, Assistant Vice President of the Business Strategy Planning Department, Corporate Planning Division, Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (HSRC).

The meeting focused on the importance of cooperation between Germany's industrial competence and Taiwan's ICT capabilities. Public Transportation was highlighted as a crucial instrument to achieve net-zero targets and sustainable growth for modern cities and nations. We also introduced InnoTrans as a key platform for public-private partnerships and discussed plans for InnoTrans 2024. The Minister and other key industry authorities from TRC, HSRC, and the Railway Bureau were invited to attend InnoTrans. Additionally, we explored potential cooperation in tourism promotion and upcoming events like UITP Hamburg 2025.

We are excited about the opportunities this collaboration will bring and look forward to a successful partnership with the MOTC!

DEinternational Taiwan Ltd. is hiring a Senior Manager (German Business Alliance, Events & Investment Promotion)!

Your Role:

• Support German member companies in Taiwan
• Organize exciting events like the German Christmas Markets and Oktoberfest
• Promote German investment opportunities to Taiwanese businesses
• Collaborate closely with our dynamic team

Qualifications:

• Native in German
• Fluent in English
• Fluent in Chinese, basic Chinese reading and writing skills
• University degree (preferably in Chinese/Asian Studies, Business, Politics)
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• At least 2 years of project management experience

Perks:

• Positive, multicultural work environment
• Career development opportunities
• Salary: 60.000 – 75.000 NT$ fixed monthly salary
• 14 days annual paid leave + Taiwanese and German public holidays

Deadline: July 31

Send your CV and cover letter to Ms. Lin Yi at lin.yi@taiwan.ahk.de.

The largest platform for the global energy industry, Smarter E Europe, was a phenomenal success in June! We are excited to announce that the next Smarter E Europe will be held from May 7 – 9, 2025, at Messe München, Germany. Smarter E Europe unites four major exhibitions: Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe, and EM-Power Europe. These exhibitions will cover renewable energy, batteries and energy storage systems, charging equipment and e-mobility, as well as energy management and integrated solutions. 

In 2024, Smarter E Europe featured over 3,000 exhibitors showcasing their innovative products and attracted approximately 110,000 visitors from around the globe. Additionally, more than 2,500 attendees participated in the conference and various side events, setting a new record. 

Next year, in corporation with TAITRA we will organize the Taiwan Pavilion in the Intersolar Sector (Hall A3). We welcome all Taiwanese companies to join us! Smarter E also exhibits globally, not just in Munich but in Mumbai, Dubai, South America, and North America. 

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.

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!

On behalf of Rauschert Asia Ltd., a subsidiary of the German company Paul Rauschert Steinbach GmbH, a leading global manufacturer of technical ceramics, molded plastic parts and more, we want to make you aware of an open job position, i.e. Commercial Person.

Key Responsibilities:

• Report clearly to the management team in Germany
• Make daily business decisions with our development team in Taiwan and Germany
• Decide together with the management team in Germany on the business process within the strategy of Rauschert

Requirements:

• Import and export experience is a plus
• Readiness to come to Germany for training and business coordination a least once per year (other countries might be possible too)

For further details and information regarding the application process, please visit our website.

Export Orders Increase 6.95% on Rising Chip Demand

Growth in export orders returned to positive territory for the first time in seven quarters last quarter, thanks to rising demand for chips used in artificial intelligence (AI) applications and high-performance computing (HPC) applications, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said.

Export orders in the April-to-June quarter expanded 6.95 percent annually from US$132.35 billion a year earlier to US$141.55 billion, after orders last month grew slower than expected at 3.1 percent year-on-year amid weak demand for notebook computers and smartphones, the ministry said. The ministry said it had expected an annual expansion of at least 10.9 percent.

(Last access: 26.07.2024 / Taipei Times)

Taiwan's Unemployment Rate Falls to 24-Year Low in June

Taiwan's jobless rate rose slightly in June but was still the lowest for the month in 24 years, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) reported.

Taiwan's unemployment rate edged up 0.05 percentage points in June from a month earlier to 3.39 percent after having fallen the previous three months, largely due to an increase in first time jobseekers after they graduated from high school or college, according to the DGBAS.

The latest unemployment figure was the lowest recorded in June since 2000, when the jobless rate was 2.89 percent, DGBAS data showed.

(Last access: 26.07.2024 / Focus Taiwan)

Minister Envisions Taiwanese SMEs Going Global With Government's Help

The government should play an active role in Taiwanese small-and-medium enterprises' (SME) international expansion, possibly through "overseas special zones," Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) has said.

"Taiwanese companies used to look for overseas customers on their own, as we used to say that Taiwanese SME bosses would go abroad with just a briefcase in hand [and bring back orders]," Kuo, the former chairman of semiconductor raw material and equipment supplier Topco Group, told CNA in a recent interview.

Now, however, SMEs need the government as an intermediary and integrating force, Kuo said.

Experts Unpick Trump Claim That Taiwan Stole Its Chip Industry

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments last month about Taiwan stealing the U.S.’ chip industry have led to rebuttals from experts.

In a Bloomberg interview, Trump accused Taiwan of stealing “almost 100%” of the U.S.’ chip business. However, industry sources said that Taiwan grew its own chip industry because of hard work and investment, per CNN.