We hope you stayed safe during last week’s typhoon in Taiwan, and we are happy for dryer days ahead this October!

We’re thrilled to share some exciting updates in this InfoBrief! Starting with EUREM in our GTO News section: Last Friday marked a special milestone as we celebrated the graduation of six dedicated professionals from the EUREM program in Taiwan. Over the past seven months, they committed their evenings and weekends to become experts in energy efficiency and management. A huge congratulations to them!

Last week, a group of enthusiastic scholarship students from the CHIN-KoBe project came to visit us to learn more about Taiwan's economic landscape and its strong ties with Germany. To read more about these young talents and their mission in Taiwan, go to our GTO News section. We wish them all the best on this island!

In our Top News section, read more about the future of Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing Applications. Organized by us and funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action under the market entry programme, the "Taiwanese-German Conference on Industry 4.0 Applications" offers an incredible opportunity to explore cutting-edge solutions and network with German industry leaders. Don’t miss out on this event happening October 22!

We're also excited to announce the Resilience Ecosystem Delegation - Offshore Wind & Clean Energy, organized in collaboration with the German Chambers in Malaysia and Singapore. Scheduled from November 18 to 22, this visit will focus on offshore energy solutions, including wind, hydrogen, tidal, and geothermal energy. Taiwanese businesses in related fields will have the opportunity to learn from German companies' expertise and network with potential partners. To join, please refer to our Top News Section.

Lastly, we're proud to share that a Taiwanese startup, VM-Fi, has been named a finalist for the Future AI Startup Pitch for the upcoming 18th Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK) in New Delhi this October! VM-Fi provides a 5G and AI-powered real-time speech translation service for events, highlighting Taiwan's innovation prowess. Wishing all the finalists the best of luck! Read more about this in in our GTO News section. 

Kind regards,

Inroduction

The German Trade Office Taipei collaborates with the German Chamber of Commerce in Malaysia and in Singapore to organize a business visit focused on offshore energy solutions from November 18 to 22, 2024.

This event will cover areas such as wind energy, hydrogen energy, tidal energy, and geothermal energy. It presents an excellent opportunity for Taiwanese businesses in related fields to gain insight into the expertise and operations of German companies regarding offshore energy technology services in Malaysia and Singapore, as well as to engage and communicate with potential partners. This includes in-depth market reports on the Singapore and Malaysia regions presented by the German Chamber of Commerce, alongside special site visits.

During the event, participants will have the chance to visit notable sites such as Petronas/Gentari, where they can learn about cutting-edge offshore energy solutions and explore potential collaboration opportunities. Experts will share their practical experiences and discuss how to leverage Germany's technological advantages to advance the local energy transition process. Taiwanese businesses will also be able to explore collaboration opportunities along the entire value chain throughout the process.

Additionally, on November 20, participants will attend the OSEA 2024 exhibition and enjoy dinner networking opportunities with Taiwanese and German businesses after the event. This exhibition is one of the largest energy events in Southeast Asia and will attract professionals from around the world to showcase the latest technologies and innovations. This itinerary not only provides a platform for global companies to enter the ASEAN market but also serves as an important opportunity to promote international cooperation.

We sincerely invite all businesses and professionals interested in the offshore energy sector to participate in this remarkable event and to open a new chapter of collaboration and innovation.

As the visit requires considerable planning and has participant limits, please register as soon as possible if you are interested in the participation.

Details

Date: November 18 – 22, 2024
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia & Singapore
Languages: English

Registration

For registration or other related questions, please contact Mr. Huang from the German Trade Office.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Time: 9:30 – 16:00 (registration time: 9:00 – 9:30)
Venue: Illume Taipei (No. 100, DunHua N Rd, Songshan District, Taipei City, 105020)
Fee: Free of charge
Language: English


Registration

Are you interested in discovering the latest innovations "Made in Germany" in Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing? Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect directly with German companies, explore potential business opportunities, and find your next business partner!

As part of the upcoming delegation trip to Taiwan, Taiwanese importers, distributors, and manufacturers will have the exclusive chance to engage in B2B meetings with delegation members from October 23 to 25. To secure your spot for these exclusive meetings, simply contact Ms. Linda Blechert at blechert.linda@taiwan.ahk.de.

Taiwanese-German Conference on Industry 4.0 Applications
22.10.2024 | Location: Taipei

Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK)
24.10.2024 - 26.10.2024 | Location: New Delhi

GTO German Oktoberfest X German Business Day
24.10.2024 | Location: Taipei

Water Resource Technology Delegation in Vietnam
04.11.2024 - 08.11.2024 | Location: Ho Chi Minh City

Resilience Ecosystem Delegation - Offshore Wind & Clean Energy
18.11.2024 - 22.11.2024 | Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia & Singapore

Congratulations to Our EUREM Graduates!

Last Friday marked a special milestone as we celebrate the graduation of six dedicated professionals from the EUREM program here in Taiwan! Over the past seven months, they’ve committed their evenings and weekends to become experts in energy efficiency and management.

Our colleague Linda Blechert, General Manager of DEinternational Taiwan Ltd., commenced the ceremony with a warm welcome, followed by a video greeting from Julian Goldmann, Science and Technology Officer at the German Institute Taipei, who expressed his congratulations to this memorable occasion.

With Taiwan's ambitious climate protection goals and the push for renewable energy, the need for skilled energy managers is greater than ever. The projects completed by this year’s graduates have already made a difference—saving an estimated 40 MWh of electricity and reducing CO2 emissions by over 500 metric tons annually, alongside NT$5 million in cost savings!

A big thank you to our amazing trainers who made this journey possible. We hope the success of this program inspires more companies to invest in energy management and join us in working towards a more sustainable future!

Last week, we had the wonderful opportunity to welcome a group of 15 enthusiastic scholarship students from the CHIN-KoBe project, an initiative by the Hans-Böckler-Stiftung to foster East-Asian expertise among scholars to our office. These talented individuals are in Taiwan for a five-week language course at the National Taiwan University, immersing themselves in the local language and culture .

During their visit, our Chief Representative and Executive Director Dr. Eva Langerbeck provided an engaging and comprehensive briefing on Taiwan, focusing on the economic landscape and the strong economic ties between Germany and Taiwan. The students were eager to gain deeper insights, and the discussions that followed were lively and inspiring. It’s always a pleasure to support young talents, especially those eager to explore the opportunities this dynamic region has to offer.

We wish them all the best and lots of enjoyment as they embark on their journey of cultural discovery and language learning here on this beautiful island!

Isabella studied Political Science and Sociology at Goethe University Frankfurt, Germany, for her Bachelor’s degree, and is currently on her gap year in Taiwan. She decided to move to Taipei to improve her Chinese and gain hands-on experience in different fields through various internships. Having grown up across Asia in cities like Taipei, Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur, Isabella has a deep connection with the region. In Taiwan, she’s found a love for the local food , the beautiful nature, and enjoys spending time with her fat orange cat, who happily resides with her in Taipei, and whom she lovingly calls Chonk.

For the next six months, Isabella will be assisting our team with various media, communication, and PR tasks. She will be managing our social media presence, maintaining our website, and helping design and create publications like the weekly InfoBrief Taiwan and the monthly InfoBrief Germany. Isabella is excited for the months to come and to gain international work experience!

Welcome to the team, Isabella!

Join us for the biggest German-Taiwanese networking event of the year, the GTO German Oktoberfest 2024!

Enjoy authentic German food, beer, and music at one of Germany’s most iconic and traditional festivities – the Oktoberfest! - So, get your Dirndl and Lederhose ready, and let’s celebrate!

Event Details

Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024
Time: 18:00 – 22:00
Venue: 2F. Grand Ballroom, Illume Taipei
Address: No 100 Dun Hua N Rd, Songshan District, Taipei, Taiwan 台北市松山區敦化北路100號
Dress code: traditional German Oktoberfest attire (Dirndl & Lederhosen)

Special Features

Traditional German Band Performance directly from Germany with the MÜNCHNER BUAM band
All-You-Can-Drink fresh Hofbräu beer: Weisse & Dunkel
Authentic German Set-Menu (Vegetarian Menu is available on request)

Sponsorship Opportunities for Corporate Clients

As Oktoberfest is one of the most lively and friendly German festivities with great attendance, sponsors enjoy attractive and wide visibility throughout the event venue, event materials as well as media coverage through the display of their company logo. Therefore, we offer two attractive sponsorship packages. GTO Business Alliance Members get a special discount on those packages. To learn more about our sponsorship opportunities, please look at our sponsorship package.

Aiming to capitalize on opportunities in water recycling and aligning with economic strategies for the water resource industry, the German Trade Office Taipei, in collaboration with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK Vietnam) and Germany Trade & Invest - Southeast Asia (GTAI ASEAN), will lead Taiwanese water technology companies to the Vietwater exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City. The visit will also facilitate industry exchanges with local water resource management professionals from Vietnam and Germany, as well as business development and matchmaking.

If you are a Taiwanese company specializing in water management solutions and are interested in expanding into the Vietnamese market, don't miss the Vietnam Water Resource Technology Delegation organized by the German Trade Office Taipei this November.

As the visit requires considerable planning and has participant limits, please register as soon as possible if you wish to join the Delegation.

Event Details

Date: November 4 – 8, 2024
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Languages: English

Registration

For registration or other related questions, please contact Ms. Venus Peng.

If you're interested in the latest trends in tourism, mark your calendar for ITB Asia 2024 in Singapore! Set to take place from October 23 to 25, this premier trade show goes beyond networking; it’s a hub for shaping the future of travel in Asia. Industry professionals from around the globe will converge to share insights, discover groundbreaking travel solutions, and collaborate on crafting unforgettable experiences. We're thrilled to announce our participation at ITB Asia, where we'll continue to highlight the beauty of Taiwan. This year, the event is expected to draw 24,000 attendees across four stages with 17 thematic tracks. After achieving over 35,000 business appointments in 2023, ITB Asia remains an outstanding platform for building lasting partnerships in the global travel industry.

We’re excited to offer a discount voucher code for ITB ASIA 2024 entrance ticket. Please contact Ms. Peng to receive your special offer.

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.

MR, the world market leader in energy technology, is looking for a Team Assistant to join their team in Taipei! In this role, you'll contribute to keeping the energy supply stable for the future, supporting sales, service, HR, and finance while helping maintain office operations and organizing events. This is an opportunity to be part of a global team of 3,800 passionate colleagues, driving the energy transition with MR’s smart digital and analog solutions.

The ideal candidate should have:

• 3-5 years’ experience in an office setting, ideally in an international company.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (SAP experience is a plus).
• Strong communication skills in English and the local language.

Interested in shaping the future of energy with MR?

Click here to read more about this position on their website.

The latest risk report on Taiwan, published by BMI—a Fitch Solutions Company—in Q4 2024, offers a comprehensive overview of the island's political and economic landscape, along with a ten-year forecast. Key findings include the following:

Read a more detailed summary on our official website.

Source: Fitch Solutions

Taiwanese Fuel Suppliers Announce Price Cuts for Gasoline

Labor Funds Post 14.25% YTD Gains Despite Poor Performance in August

The Ministry of Labor's Bureau of Labor Funds reported strong year-to-date gains of NT$887.10 billion (US$28.36 billion) through August, despite a modest increase of NT$1.34 billion (US$42.09 million) in August alone.

Global markets faced challenges from disappointing U.S. economic data, but positive retail sales and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's hints at potential rate cuts helped bolster confidence. The Taiex index surged 24.19% in the first eight months, while the MSCI World Index rose 15.97%.

As of August, 56.90% of state-owned labor funds were invested overseas, achieving a year-to-date return of 14.25%. The Labor Pension Fund, valued at NT$4.43 trillion, recorded a 14.08% return, and the Labor Retirement Fund saw an impressive 16.71% return. The Public Service Pension Fund reported NT$130.55 billion in gains, reflecting a solid 14.56% return for the year.

(Last access: 07.10.2024 / Focus Taiwan)

Taiwan Looks to Help Europe Build Chip Supply Chain

Taiwan aims to assist Europe in enhancing chip manufacturing and secure supply chains, stated Deputy Foreign Minister François Wu at a German National Day event in Taipei. He highlighted the groundbreaking of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in Dresden, which marks a significant step in Taiwan-Germany trade, exceeding US$22 billion in 2023.

Wu praised shared values of freedom and democracy and commended Germany’s naval transits through the Taiwan Strait. German representative Jörg Polster noted that TSMC's investment is fostering broader academic and research collaborations, including a training program for TU Dresden students in Taiwan.

Saxony's science minister, Sebastian Gemkow, emphasized how freedom fuels successful partnerships between Taiwan and Germany. German National Day, celebrated on October 3, commemorates Germany's reunification in 1990.

(Last access: 07.10.2024 / Focus Taiwan)

Taiwan Solar Firms Aim for U.S. Market Expansion

Taiwan's solar manufacturers, TSEC Corp and Motech Industries, are set to increase their exports, particularly to the U.S., following the imposition of high tariffs on solar imports from Southeast Asian competitors.

TSEC, the country's largest solar company, is shifting its strategy to focus on international markets after years of prioritizing the local market. The company plans to boost its export share of solar cells from 10% to 30% in the next quarter and 50% by next year, targeting growth in the U.S. and Japan, where companies are seeking alternatives to Chinese suppliers.

Despite a challenging domestic market, TSEC remains profitable, although its net profit dropped 84% year-on-year in the first half of 2024. Motech is also exploring opportunities overseas, having received interest from potential customers in the U.S., Europe, and India. With local solar panel installations expected to decline significantly, Motech is focusing on international sales and has launched new G10 solar wafers that offer improved efficiency.