Happy belated Nikolaustag! In Germany, December 6th, which was last Friday, is a cherished tradition where children leave their boots or stockings out the night before, hoping St. Nicholas will fill them with treats like chocolates, fruits, or small gifts—if they've been good, of course!

Fittingly, the Christmas spirit was in full swing with two fantastic events last week. Our 2024 GTO Christmas Goose Dinner - Supported by Good Earth CPA on Thursday, welcomed over 100 guests to a cozy evening of fine dining, festive cheer, and a successful charity draw raising 225,000 NTD for the Syin-Lu Social Welfare Foundation. To view some impressions, go to our GTO News section! Over the weekend, German Christmasland transformed Banqiao into a magical Winter Wonderland, attracting over 100,000 visitors. Thank you to our sponsors, Kärcher Taiwan and Midlight, co-organizers, the New Taipei City Government, and everyone who joined us for these unforgettable celebrations. Check the GTO News section for photos and highlights!

As we near the end of 2024, we’re thrilled to invite you to our final event of the year: German Digital Learning Market Landscape: Entry Barriers and Best Practices. With the global digital education market evolving rapidly, this seminar on Friday, December 13 will spotlight opportunities for Taiwanese companies to thrive in Germany’s expanding digital learning sector. From innovative case studies to insights on the LEARNTEC trade fair, it’s an unmissable chance to explore this transformative market. Register now to secure your spot! Details can be found in the Top News section.

Have you participated in our Business Confidence Survey 2024/2025 yet? This critical initiative gathers insights to help advocate for a thriving business environment for German companies in Taiwan. If you haven’t already, please complete the survey by December 13 for a chance to win tickets to the GTO Goose Dinner or Oktoberfest. Check out the Top News section for more information!

Good news reached us from REMONDIS, which marked a milestone with the inauguration of a cutting-edge plastics recycling facility in Changhua, further advancing Taiwan’s sustainability goals. We also had the pleasure of participating in our bi-annual intern exchange with the German Institute Taipei, which brought together interns from various trade offices for a day of insightful discussions and networking. Check out both reviews under GTO News!

Looking ahead, don’t miss the TÜV NORD Accountability AA1000 Certified ACSAP Training in January! For more information on how to join, refer to the Business Alliance News section. Lastly, explore insights from the DIHK World Business Outlook Fall 2024 in the DIHK News section, and the latest GTAI article on Taiwan’s automobile industry in the GTAI News section.

Stay warm and have a wonderful week!

Dr. Eva Langerbeck

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!

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!

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

Our 2024 GTO Christmas Goose Dinner - Supported by Good Earth CPA, which took place last Thursday, was truly a night to cherish! Over 100 guests enjoyed a delectable four-course meal paired with fine German wines from Peter Mertes KG, all in a cozy and festive atmosphere.

The highlight of the evening was our exciting charity lucky draw, with incredible prizes generously provided by our amazing sponsors: ECOVIS International, Swan Panasia Co., Ltd., Opulent State Life Corp, HÄFELE TAIWAN LIMITED, Obton, Bosch, Good Earth CPA, Peter Mertes KG, L'Oréal, Melchers, Siemens, ASYS, Audi Taiwan, Volkswagen Group Taiwan Co. Ltd., Škoda Group Taiwan, ZEISS Group, and ILLUME Taipei. Thank you for making this event so special! Your support truly helped create an unforgettable experience. Thanks to everyone’s generosity, 225.000 NTD were donated to the Syin-Lu Social Welfare Foundation.

We are so grateful to everyone who joined us for this festive celebration and helped make this holiday season even brighter. Wishing you all a joyful, love-filled holiday season!

For more impressions, please refer to our LinkedIn post.

Global recycling leader REMONDIS has inaugurated a cutting-edge plastics recycling facility in Fangyuan Township, Changhua County. With an investment of 1.8 billion NTD, the plant represents a major milestone in Taiwan’s resource recovery efforts, setting new standards in #sustainability and #efficiency.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Klemens Rethmann, board member of the RETHMANN Group, highlighted the plant’s role in advancing global sustainability efforts. Jim Tai, General Manager of REMONDIS Taiwan, shared insights into the plant’s innovative processes and local impact. Lai Ying-Ying, Head of the Resource Circulation Administration, praised the plant’s advanced capabilities, highlighting its role in aligning with Taiwan’s circular economy goals. Deputy County Magistrate Lin Tien-Fu also commended the investment, noting its positive impact on the local economy and environment.

Learn more about the factory by clicking this link!

A couple weeks ago, we had an amazing intern exchange with the German Institute Taipei (GIT). It wasn’t just us from the German Trade Office; interns from the French Office, Belgian Office, Arizona Office, and the European Trade Office joined in, making it an international meetup to remember! We had the pleasure of meeting Andreas Hofem, Deputy Director of the GIT, who gave us an insider’s look into the institute’s role and responsibilities. He didn’t just share fascinating insights—he also answered all our questions. From his daily tasks to the challenges of his role, nothing was off-limits!

It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with interns from other offices, exchange ideas, and learn more about working in this special environment. A big thank-you to Andreas Hofem and the German Institute Taipei for making this event so insightful and fun!

We’re already looking forward to the next exchange!

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.

The international online training will be held on January 21-23, 2025

The ESG report has become the focus of various international evaluations of a company. At present, more than 80% of the public sustainability reports in Taiwan are verified according to AA1000. From 2025 onwards, at least one member of each verification team will need to be eligible for ACSAP.

From the final mile of verification’s perspective, we helps clients looking back at the process of constitute an ESG report, and also helps certification bodies using a clear set of international verification frameworks, principles and standards to make these non-financial indicators that are not readily available and not easy to see easily presented.

This international class is taught online in English

• Module A (1 day): Stakeholder Engagement Standard
• Module B (1 day): Accountability Principle
• Module C (1 day): Assurance Standard
• Module A+B $35,000 (tax included)
• After completing the training and pass the exam, you will receive AA1000 certified SP (Sustainability Practitioner Certificate), and your name and email will be listed in AccountAbility’s website as Sustainability Practitioner for one year.
• Module A+B+C $66,780 (tax included)
• After completing the training and pass the exam, you will receive AA1000 certified ACSAP (Associate Certified Sustainability Assurance Practitioner), and your name and email will be listed in AccountAbility’s website for one year.

The AHK World Business Outlook, conducted in autumn 2024, offers a detailed analysis of how nearly 3,500 German companies and their international counterparts view the current and future economic environment. With data collected from late September to mid-October, the survey provides valuable insights into business expectations regarding local economic conditions, investments, and employment across global markets.

The global economy and trade remain robust, but German companies face contrasting conditions abroad and at home. While the German economy struggles to capitalize on global growth, companies at international locations report a more positive outlook. Despite some pessimism compared to earlier in the year, 27% of surveyed firms anticipate improved economic conditions in the next year, though 22% expect a decline. Regional disparities persist, with North America and MENA showing optimism, while Europe and Greater China remain cautious.

German firms abroad report mixed current business conditions. Globally, 42% rate their situation as good, 43% as satisfactory, and 15% as poor. Service companies remain the most positive, while retail and manufacturing sectors are less upbeat. Regionally, U.S. companies report strong performance, but businesses in South and Central America, Greater China, and Asia-Pacific face challenges. Notably, China’s economic situation shows signs of recovery.

Taiwan’s Automobile Industry to Grow in 2025

Taiwan's automotive industry is undergoing significant changes, driven by the rise of electric vehicles (EVs). The motor vehicle market is expected to trend moderately upwards in 2025, with imports recovering. In 2024, Taiwan's vehicle market will see a significant increase in imports especially of German cars. From January to September 2024, German auto imports grew by 18.6% in volume and 11.3% in value year on year.

While the market for traditional internal combustion engine vehicles remains strong, electric and hybrid cars are gaining ground. Sales of electric vehicles increased by 54% in 2023, and hybrid vehicles by 26%. However, fully electric cars account for only 5.3% of new registrations, far from the government's target of 30% of new registrations by 2030.

In response to the growing electric vehicle trend, investment in automotive electronics is increasing. Taiwan's automotive electronics market is expected to grow from NT$400 billion (about US$12.5 billion) in 2023 to over NT$900 billion (approximately US$28 billion) by 2028.

With these prospects German semiconductor manufacturer Infineon announced in summer 2024 that it would be setting up a new R&D center in Taiwan to develop innovative chips for the automotive industry, investing US$37 million.

New investments in testing facilities are also being made. In October 2024, DEKRA opened a state-of-the-art test lab for smart and connected vehicles in New Taipei City, while the Automotive Research Technology Center (ARTC) is developing a test facility for cybersecurity and software-based vehicle technologies in collaboration with TÜV SÜD.

For more information about Taiwan's automotive industry, follow this link to read the article in German.

Q3 Job Openings Rise to 265,000 Monthly in Taiwan

Taiwan's job openings averaged 265,000 per month in the third quarter of 2024, marking a 10% year-on-year increase, according to 104 Job Bank. Notably, 40% of employers offered opportunities for foreign nationals.

The hospitality, retail, and information sectors led the demand for foreign workers, with 77,000, 41,000, and 27,000 positions, respectively. About 15,000 foreign nationals applied through the platform during the July-September period, a 9% rise from the previous year. Of those applicants, nearly 60% were under 30 years old, and 80% were college graduates. Among foreign applicants, 23% were from Malaysia, 14% from Vietnam, and 13% from Indonesia. The most sought-after roles included customer service, marketing planning, project management, and R&D positions.

104 Job Bank has launched a special Foreigners Platform to support foreign graduates and students in finding opportunities in Taiwan, working in collaboration with the Overseas Community Affairs Council to offer internships and part-time roles.

Typhoons Drive Taiwan's CPI Growth to 2.08% in November

Taiwan's consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.08% in November compared to a year earlier, marking the highest year-on-year growth in nearly two years, driven largely by increased vegetable prices following recent typhoons, according to the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS).

The core CPI, which excludes fruits, vegetables, and energy, saw a 1.74% increase year-on-year. Typhoons led to agricultural losses, pushing vegetable prices up by 19.43%, contributing 0.52 percentage points to the overall CPI. Dining-out costs also saw a notable increase, rising by 3.06% in November, the highest in eight months. However, this increase is relatively stable compared to the 2.96% and 2.98% recorded in the two preceding months.

Meanwhile, the costs of 17 key government-monitored household goods saw a slight 0.2% decrease, showing overall stability. However, medical care (4.46%), education (2.87%), housing rent (2.66%), and vehicle maintenance (2.58%) saw significant price rises. DGBAS officials noted that while rent reached its highest annual growth in 28 years, the trend is unlikely to subside due to rising housing prices and interest rates.

(Last access: 09.12.2024 / Focus Taiwan)

Tokyo Electron Opens NT$2 Billion Center in Tainan

Tokyo Electron Ltd, Asia’s largest semiconductor equipment supplier, has opened a NT$2 billion (US$61.5 million) operations center in Tainan to expand capacity and meet demand. Located near key customers like TSMC’s 3-nanometer fabs, the six-floor facility includes a repair center and testing lab to reduce repair times and improve production efficiency.

With 1,000 employees expected when fully operational, the center will support faster turnaround for critical components and strengthen local supply chains by sourcing parts domestically. Taiwan is now Tokyo Electron’s fourth-largest market, contributing 13.3% of its total Q2 revenue.

Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo highlighted the center as a symbol of Taiwan-Japan semiconductor collaboration.

(Last access: 09.12.2024 / Taipei Times)

Hon Hai Reports Second-Highest November Sales

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. reported consolidated sales of NT$672.59 billion (US$20.76 billion) in November, marking the second-highest sales for the month in the company’s history, just behind NT$681.4 billion in November 2020. Though down 16.34% from October, the sales were up 3.47% from last year.

For the first 11 months of 2024, Hon Hai’s total revenue reached NT$6.21 trillion, an 8.87% increase compared to the same period in 2023 and higher than the NT$6.16 trillion reported for all of 2023.

The company attributed November's growth to demand for AI servers, cloud computing products, and increased component shipments, despite weaker demand for smart consumer electronics. Meanwhile, Largan Precision reported a 22% year-on-year increase in the first 11 months to NT$53.81 billion but saw a decline of 11% in November, impacted by cautious demand.