Yesterday was the first Advent, officially kicking off the Christmas season! We celebrated in style over the weekend with the 2024 GTO Christmas Market Taipei, which ran from Friday to Sunday. It was a fantastic weekend filled with Glühwein, Bratwürstchen, and festive cheer, all made even more special by the crisp, sunny weather. Check out our GTO News section for photos and a detailed recap of the event! You can also read about our interview with International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT) on the Christmas Market in the GTO News section.

We also want to thank our wonderful sponsors who helped make this holiday magic possible: Audi as our Exclusive Automobile Sponsor; Infineon, Sino German Cultural and Economic Association, and Franz Collection as our Christmas Tree Sponsors; and China Airlines, Kärcher, Beurer, Rommelsbacher, and Midlights as our Santa Claus Sponsors.

If you’re still craving more Christmas fun, we have fantastic news! This coming weekend, our German Christmasland will transform Banqiao into a Winter Wonderland, offering the same Christmas magic, festive treats, and joyous atmosphere. Check out the Top News section for all the details. We are excited to see you there!

Two weeks ago, we launched our annual Business Confidence Survey for 2024/2025, a vital initiative that helps us advocate for a business-friendly environment for German companies in Taiwan. Your participation is crucial—the more responses we receive, the greater our collective impact. Don’t forget to complete the survey by December 13, 2024, for a chance to win tickets to our GTO Goose Dinner or Oktoberfest. Please refer to the Top News section for further information.

Looking ahead, don’t miss the seminar German Digital Learning Market Landscape: Entry Barriers and Best Practices on December 13. This event will provide an in-depth look at Germany’s digital learning market, featuring insights from experts and successful case studies from Taiwanese companies. Register by December 6 to secure your spot! More details in our Top News section.

Last Thursday, we hosted the 2nd DMEA Bootcamp! Highlights included market entry insights from FOXCONN Digital Health and aetherAI, and updates from Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) on regulatory trends. Interested in DMEA 2025, taking place April 8-10 in Germany? Go to the GTO News section for more information.

Finally, explore our summary of GATI’s new article Taiwan’s carbon pricing system. Beginning in 2025, companies will report CO2 emissions, and from 2026, carbon fees will be introduced to encourage sustainable practices. To read the English summary or the full article in German, go to our GTAI News section below.

We wish you a happy week ahead and hope to see you at our German Christmasland in Banqiao this Friday!

Dr. Eva Langerbeck

Venue and Opening Hours

New Taipei City Plaza in Banqiao

Friday, December 6th, 11:00 - 22:00

Saturday, December 7th, 11:00 - 22:00

Sunday, December 8th, 11:00 - 22:00

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on the German Christmas Market New Taipei 2024!

Reminder To Take Part in the Business Confidence Survey 2024/2025!

Two weeks ago, we started conducting our annual Business Confidence Survey. The survey provides critical insights into the current economic landscape, serving as a powerful tool to advocate for meaningful changes at a policy level. Simply put, the more voices we have, the stronger our impact in creating an environment where German companies can thrive in Taiwan; hence, your feedback is invaluable, and we truly appreciate your input.

We have already sent out the questionnaire to all German companies listed with us, please fill out the survey by December 13, 2024. The survey takes only 15 minutes to complete and is designed to keep your responses fully anonymous. As a special thank you, participants will be entered into a raffle to win a ticket to one of our signature events—the GTO Goose Dinner or GTO Oktoberfest.

In case your company is eligible for participation, but has not received the questionnaire yet, please contact our Media & Communications Senior Manager Mr. Christoph Lory at lory.christoph@taiwan.ahk.de.

Your participation is highly appreciated as every feedback counts!

Join Us: German Digital Learning Market Landscape: Entry Barriers and Best Practices

The global digital education market is evolving rapidly, propelled by advancements in distance learning, AI applications in education, and virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR). These technologies are transforming the essence of education, emphasizing personalization, accessibility, and lifelong learning. This shift is being implemented across K-12 schools, universities, vocational training, and workplace education, revolutionizing how knowledge is delivered and acquired.

Supported by the policies and ongoing technological innovation, Germany's digital learning market is set for significant growth in the coming years. This creates substantial opportunities for Taiwanese manufacturers. With a proven track record in innovation, competitive products, and adaptability, Taiwanese companies are well-positioned to capture a significant share of this market and achieve sustainable, long-term success.

This seminar will provide an in-depth overview of the German digital learning market, and feature insights from experts with over a decade of hands-on experience in Germany’s digital learning sector. Additionally, Taiwanese companies will share practical case studies of their successful market entry experiences in Germany. By integrating perspectives from both Taiwan and Germany, this seminar will deliver actionable strategies and highlight best practices for entering and thriving in the German market.

For Taiwanese companies and startups aiming to expand into German education market, this seminar is an unmissable opportunity. The program will also introduce LEARNTEC, Europe’s largest trade fair and congress for digital education, which serves as a critical platform for market entry. Don’t miss this chance—register now via the online form to secure your spot!

Event Details

Tickets include a four-course set menu, participation in the lucky draw event, and German white and red wine, kindly provided by Peter Mertes.

Lucky Draw Charity

Per tradition, we will also be conducting our charity lucky draw event. This year, all donations generated by the lucky draw will be donated to the Syin-Lu Social Welfare Foundation.

Syinlu Foundation, founded in 1987 by parents of children with disabilities, provides support for kids with intellectual and developmental challenges. Initially created to address societal misunderstandings and lack of resources, Syinlu relies on donations and the dedication of parents. Its mission is to offer comprehensive services that help these children live dignified, fulfilling lives. It hopes to continue fostering acceptance and providing professional help, ensuring a dignified and hopeful future for disabled children and their families.

If you would like to support the Lucky Draw Charity with additional prices, please feel free to contact our colleague Mr. Sinan Ertugrul.

This year's lucky draw gifts include

• 2x Apple Watches, kindly provided by Ecovis
• A wide variety of tabletop games, kindly provided by Swan Panasia Co., Ltd.
• 3x Meissen Porcelain, kindly provided by Opulent State Life Corp
• 1x big flat screen TV, kindly provided by Häfele Taiwan Limited 
• 1x LEGO Friends Beach Amusement Park by Obton
• 1x LEGO City Robot World Roller-Coaster Park by Obton
• 2x Glass VAC 3.6V kindly provided by Bosch
• 1x Aquatak UA125 kindly provided by Bosch
• 2x Easy Aquatak EA110 kindly provided by Bosch
• 2x GSB 12V-30 Cordless Combi kindly provided by Bosch
• 2x Universal Brush 3.6V kindly provided by Bosch
• 46x EasyCards with 100TWD Value Each kindly provided by Good Earth
• 3x Wine Sets (1 Set includes 2 bottles) kindly provided by Peter Mertes
• 1x Hamper kindly provided by L'Oreal
• 1x Dr. Beckmann Gift Bag (includes laundry sheets, odour remover, power grease cleaner, and pet stain remover) kindly provided by Melchers

Registration

If you are interested, please register at the following link:

2024 GTO Christmas Goose Dinner
05.12.2024 | Location: Taipei

2024 German Christmasland in New Taipei City
06.12.2024 - 08.12.2024 | Location: New Taipei City

German Digital Learning Market Landscape: Entry Barriers and Best Practices
13.12.2024 | Location: Taipei

Our Executive Director, Dr. Eva Langerbeck, had an interview with Stevie G from International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT) last week about the German Christmas Market Taipei. She shared all the exciting details: authentic German food, festive attractions, and heartwarming charity events that capture the true Christmas spirit. A huge thanks to ICRT FM100 for the lovely conversation! We’re excited for more collaborations in the future!

Tune in to the full interview (in English), courtesy of ICRT, by clicking this link to our YouTube Channel.

The first magical weekend of the German Christmas Market at Yuanshan Expo Park may have come to a close, but the celebrations aren’t over yet—Santa and his elves are still busy in their workshop, preparing for the next enchanting event!

From December 6th to December 8th, join us at New Taipei City Plaza in Banqiao, which will be transformed into a dazzling Christmasland. Expect traditional German delicacies, holiday treats, and an exciting entertainment program. Santa will also be there to delight our youngest visitors! Don’t miss this chance to immerse yourself in the festive spirit once again.

Last Thursday, we organized the 2nd DMEA Bootcamp, updating the digital healthcare business community in Taiwan with the latest market insights. We were honored to have the FOXCONN Digital Health and aether AI teams share their market entry experiences and best practices for incorporating their solutions.

Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) also covered the latest regulatory developments and market trends shaping the German market, with DMEA project team briefing on program highlights and how international companies can leverage DMEA to enter the German and European digital healthcare market. With an impressive attendance rate of 81%, the bootcamp was a great success! 

DMEA, Europe’s leading digital healthcare business event, will take place from April 8-10, 2025. Please contact our colleague Pinchao Huang if you are interested in joining as an exhibitor or delegation member to explore market opportunities.

The Smarter E Europe 2025 Booths are almost fully booked!

Smarter E Europe, the world's largest trading platform for the energy industry, 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, Intelligent Energy Europe attracted more than 3,000 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of innovative products and nearly 110,000 professional buyers from around the world. More than 2,500 participants signed up for industry seminars and business events during the show, setting an unprecedented record for business exchanges.

In 2025 edition, German Trade Office Taipei also partners with TAITRA to organize the Taiwan Pavilion at Intersolar Europe in Hall A3. 9 Taiwanese companies have already confirmed their participation in the pavilion. We cordially invite Taiwanese companies in these industries to join us and step further into the European and international markets.   

If you are interested in exhibiting at The Smarter E Global Events, such as Middle East, India, Central and South America editions, please contact our colleague Mr. Pinchao Huang. We look forward to seeing you in Munich to explore the business opportunities of the future energies!

For more information visit our website.

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.

Every two years, Berlin hosts InnoTrans, the largest global event for transport technology. This year, the trade fair welcomed an incredible 170,000 visitors from 133 countries, along with 2,940 exhibitors representing 59 countries. InnoTrans covers five key segments: Railway Technology, Railway Infrastructure, Public Transport, Interiors, and Tunnel Construction – showcasing groundbreaking developments across the industry.

Interested in Exhibiting? Early bird prices are available until January 6, 2025! Click the link in the comments for early bird stand application

Taiwanese companies interested in joining the Taiwan Pavilion, feel free to reach out to Mr. Pinchao Huang for further information.

Taiwan to Launch Its Carbon Pricing System in 2026

Taiwan will introduce carbon fees to reduce emissions and encourage businesses to adopt climate-friendly practices. From 2025, companies will be required to report their CO2 emissions, and from 2026, they will pay a general carbon fee rate of NT$300 (around US$ 9.35) per ton of CO2. Enterprises that meet certified emission reduction targets will qualify for reduced preferential rates. Initially, the carbon fee will apply to industries emitting more than 25,000 tons of CO2 per year, including the energy, chemical, cement, and steel sectors, which account for 54% of Taiwan's emissions.

Furthermore, Taiwan has set up a CO2 credit trading platform, which allows companies to offset emissions by purchasing carbon credits. The requirement to offset some of their emissions already applies to new factories and commercial buildings.

These measures also help Taiwan maintain competitiveness in global markets, as an agreement with the EU allows carbon fees paid on products in Taiwan to count towards the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), starting in 2026. The carbon fee is an important step in Taiwan's broader environmental strategy, balancing climate action with economic growth.

In addition to carbon pricing, the government's carbon management strategy includes expanding renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and implementing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies, aiming for a 23-25% reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.

For more information about Taiwan's plan to reduce emissions, follow this link to read the article in German.

Taiwan Increases Tax-Deductible Allowances for 2025

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced that the annual tax-deductible allowance for basic living expenses per person will increase by NT$8,000 to NT$210,000 for 2025. This adjustment, benefiting 2.08 million households, aligns with the Taxpayer Rights Protection Act, ensuring individuals are not taxed on essential living expenses. Additionally, personal income tax exemptions will rise from NT$92,000 to NT$97,000, and standard tax deductions will increase from NT$124,000 to NT$131,000. These changes are expected to reduce government revenue by NT$2.6 billion.

Taiwan's 2024 GDP Growth Forecast Revised to 4.27%

Taiwan's GDP growth for 2024 has been revised upward to 4.27% from 3.9%, marking a potential three-year high, according to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS). The adjustment reflects stronger-than-expected exports, driven by artificial intelligence (AI) demand, and steady domestic investments.

Exports, particularly in electronic components and communication products, are projected to grow 9.72% year-on-year, reaching US$474.5 billion. Meanwhile, investments, bolstered by semiconductor advancements, are expected to increase by 4.47%.

Despite positive drivers like wage hikes and a strong stock market, annual consumption growth was slightly lowered to 2.72%, constrained by stagnant population growth. Inflation pressures persist, with the 2024 consumer price index (CPI) forecast rising to 2.18%, though it is expected to moderate to 1.93% in 2025.

(Last access: 02.12.2024 / Focus Taiwan)

TSMC Begins Equipment Installation for 2nm Fab Ahead of Schedule

TSMC has started installing equipment for its first 2-nanometer fabrication plant in Kaohsiung, six months ahead of schedule, responding to strong global demand for advanced chips. The new 2nm technology will accelerate AI development and local industrial transformation in Kaohsiung.

TSMC plans to build four more fabs in the city, strengthening Taiwan’s semiconductor cluster. The company confirmed that its 2-nanometer technology development is progressing well, with volume production set to begin next year. Demand for 2nm chips is expected to exceed initial projections, with key customers like Apple and AMD anticipated to adopt the new technology for smartphones and high-performance computing.

(Last access: 02.12.2024 / Taipei Times)

TSMC Introduces Pet Care in Employee Benefit Plan for the First Time

TSMC has added pet care to its Global Flexible Benefit Plan (tFlex) for the first time, recognizing pets as important family members in modern society. This new offering is part of a broader initiative to enhance employee benefits, which already include competitive compensation and a healthy work environment.

Full-time employees are given flexible benefit points, roughly US$250 annually, to spend on various categories, including medical care, family care, wellness, and personal development. Pet care falls under the family care category, alongside other services like travel expenses, parental care, and legal consultation. As of November, TSMC has received over 81,000 applications for the tFlex program, reflecting its growing popularity and the company's commitment to attracting and retaining talent by meeting employees' diverse needs.