Happy Monday from Taipei!

The festive season is in full swing as we enter the last week before Chinese New Year! The hustle and bustle of Taipei is at its peak, and the city is beautifully decorated. If you have time, take a stroll through Dihua Street, where the lanterns and lights create a magical atmosphere. 

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ll be kicking off the Year of the Snake with our annual GTO Economic Outlook 2025 & Wirtschaftsstammtisch on February 20th. This event will include a presentation of our Business Confidence Survey results, offering valuable insights into the current political and economic climate for German companies in Taiwan. Attendees can also look forward to an extensive outlook on Taiwan’s economy and industry updates from machinery, energy, and semiconductor experts. The evening will also provide a fantastic networking opportunity over delicious German food and drinks. Space is limited, so head to the Top News section for registration details. 

Last week marked an exciting milestone with the launch of Taiwan’s first helicopter company dedicated to wind power, Heli Service Taiwan Co., Ltd. At the grand opening, we joined industry leaders to witness this groundbreaking initiative, which leverages German expertise to revolutionize offshore wind turbine maintenance. We also had the opportunity to visit ZEISS Taiwan, where we gained fascinating insights into their cutting-edge advancements in precision technology.  Read more these events in GTO News. 

The upcoming German early elections on February 23rd are just around the corner. Whether you’re voting for the first time abroad or have participated in previous elections, it’s important to be prepared. Head over to GTO News for all the details on how to cast your vote, including registration deadlines, voting procedures, and essential updates.

Looking ahead, don’t miss the chance to showcase your innovations at SEMICON Taiwan 2025. With limited spots available at our German Pavilion, this is the perfect platform to connect with key players in the microelectronics industry and expand your business. Visit Trade Fair News for details on how to participate. 

As we welcome the Year of the Snake, we are also celebrating Taiwan’s advancements in satellite technology. From low-earth orbit satellites to collaborations with international partners, Taiwan is rapidly positioning itself as a key player in space innovation. Learn more about these developments in this week’s GTAI News. 

Wishing you a joyful and prosperous Chinese New Year. See you in the Year of the Snake! 

Warm regards,

Dr. Eva Langerbeck

The German Trade Office Taipei is pleased to announce that we will start the year of the Snake with our annual “GTO Economic Outlook 2025 & Wirtschaftsstammtisch” event on February 20th, 2025. 

• A presentation on our annual Business Confidence Survey results, offering a comprehensive overview of the current political and economic challenges and expectations of German companies in Taiwan. 
• An extensive outlook on the future development of the Taiwanese economy. 
• Insights into specific industries, including energy, automotive, and semiconductors, provided by experts from leading German companies in Taiwan. 
• A fantastic networking opportunity with German food and drinks. 

*The price includes a dinner and drinks served during the Wirtschaftsstammtisch starting at 19:00.  

During this event, you will be able to enjoy German Erdinger beer, which is kindly sponsored by Millenia Commercial. 

Registration

If you are interested, please register under the following:

Agenda

For more information on the agenda, please visit our website.

Speakers

Contact

Taiwan's first helicopter company dedicated to wind power – Heli Service Taiwan Co., Ltd. – has officially commenced operations this week! This pioneering company, jointly established by Germany's Heli Service International GmbH and aviation experts, offers innovative solutions to overcome the challenges posed by rough seas during Taiwan’s autumn and winter northeast monsoon seasons.

At the grand opening ceremony this week, Dr. Eva Langerbeck, Chief Representative and Executive Director of the German Trade Office Taipei, attended in person to witness how this groundbreaking initiative injects new momentum into the maintenance and servicing of offshore wind turbines in Taiwan. With efficient helicopter hoisting operations, the reliance on vessels for turbine maintenance is significantly reduced, making the process faster, more convenient, and greatly enhancing the reliability and efficiency of renewable energy development.

Germany and Taiwan share a common vision for renewable energy. We look forward to even deeper collaboration in this field, driving progress toward net-zero emissions and sustainable energy solutions together.

We explored their work in optics, medical technology, and semiconductor solutions and had the chance to discuss their significant contributions in these fields. Dr. Eva Langerbeck, our Chief Representative & Executive Director even got to test one of their devices that measures the perfect fit for glasses and lenses—an impressive demonstration of their innovation!

Looking ahead, we also discussed plans for further collaboration in 2025. Stay tuned for more updates on this partnership!

Am 23. Februar 2025 wird die Wahl zum 21. Deutschen Bundestag stattfinden. In Taiwan lebende Deutsche ohne Wohnsitz in Deutschland können, insofern bestimmte Voraussetzungen erfüllt sind, als Briefwähler an der Wahl teilnehmen. Um an der Wahl teilzunehmen, müssen bestimmte Voraussetzungen erfüllt sein:

Das Wahlrecht steht dauerhaft im Ausland lebenden volljährigen Deutschen zu, die nicht von der Wahl ausgeschlossen sind, wenn sie:

1. entweder nach Vollendung des 14. Lebensjahres (das heißt vom Tage des 14. Geburtstages an) mindestens drei Monate ununterbrochen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland gelebt haben und dieser Aufenthalt nicht länger als 25 Jahre zurückliegt.
2. wenn sie aus anderen Gründen persönlich und unmittelbar Vertrautheit mit den politischen Verhältnissen in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland erworben haben und von ihnen betroffen sind.

Im Ausland lebende Deutsche müssen sich aktiv in das Wählerverzeichnis der deutschen Gemeinde eintragen, in der Sie vor ihrem Wegzug ins Ausland gemeldet waren. Dies erfordert einen formellen Antrag, den Sie auf der Webseite der Bundeswahlleiterin finden.

Das Antragsformular kann bei manchen zuständigen Gemeindebehörde auch per Scan als E-Mail übersandt werden. Bei anderen ist eine postalische Übermittlung zwingend. Erkundigen Sie sich deshalb bitte direkt bei Ihrer zuständigen Gemeindebehörde und bringen Sie Ihren Antrag schnellstmöglich auf den Weg. Der Versandt der Briefwahlunterlagen erfolgt voraussichtlich Anfang Februar 2025. Nach Erhalt der Wahlunterlagen empfiehlt sich ein Expressversand aus Taiwan. Alternativ bieten unsere Kollegen vom Deutschen Institut Taipei (DIT) auch einen Kurierdienst an. Weitere Informationen finden Sie auf der Webseite des DIT.

Bitte beachten Sie zudem: Sollten Sie in Deutschland gemeldet sein, werden Sie von Amts wegen in das Wählerverzeichnis Ihrer Gemeinde eingetragen. Sie können Ihr Wahlrecht durch eine reguläre Briefwahl ausüben. Mehr Infos hier.

Are you ready to expand your #microelectronics business in Taiwan, a global hub for cutting-edge #semiconductor technologies? SEMICON Taiwan is the premier platform to connect with industry leaders and showcase your innovations. In 2024, the event attracted an impressive 85,000 visitors, 1,100 exhibitors, and 3,700 booths!

Our German Pavilion at SEMICON Taiwan 2025 will take place in TaiNEX Hall 1, 1F, from September 10 to 12.

Why exhibit with us?
• Prime booth location within the German Pavilion
• Fully equipped, walk-in booth setup for convenience
• Access to shared facilities, including a business lounge and Happy Hour for exhibitors and buyer.
• Boosted visibility with added media exposure

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to showcase your products, connect with key buyers, and grow your footprint in one of the world’s most dynamic semiconductor markets!

Act fast—spots are limited! Contact Ms. Peng for more information:

Join us in Berlin from February 5-7, 2025, for one of the largest international events in the fresh produce industry. With over 2,700 exhibitors and 66,000 professionals from around the globe, this is your chance to expand business and connection in global fresh produce, logistics, packaging, and processing industry.

Explore new business opportunities, connect with global experts, and gain valuable insights to grow your business!

We’re offering promo codes for tickets, starting at 18% off! Contact Ms. Peng at to claim the code. 

Don’t miss out – mark your calendars!

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.

LEARNTEC is a unique combination of convention and trade fair. It showcases IT-supported learning methods and technologies and best practices in life-long learning: imparting knowledge in companies, schools and higher education institutions. At LEARNTEC you will have the chance to meet highly qualified specialists from the e-learning and education sector in the same location over a concentrated three-day period. Almost all relevant providers of digital education and decision-makers from all business sectors and public institutions will be coming together here.

For more information visit our website or contact Ms. Venus Peng.

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.

We are wpd, a German-based renewable energy developer specializing in onshore wind and solar PV projects. Headquartered in Bremen, Germany, wpd has established a strong presence in the renewable energy sector for over 20 years with activities in 31 countries and worldwide 4000 members of staff.

We have successfully developed 47 solar PV projects since 2009 in Taiwan.

Would you be our partners for solar PV projects in Taiwan？

If your company is considering installing PV panels on your building's rooftop, we would be delighted to collaborate with you. Together, two German companies in Taiwan could advocate ESG initiatives and create sustainable success!

For inquiries, please feel free to reach out to us:

Hans Tsai, Senior Specialist (available in both Chinese mandarin and English)
Email: hans.tsai@wpd.tw

Manuel Hanenberg, Business Development Director (available in English & German)

EMail: m.hanenberg@wpd.de

Taiwan is advancing its satellite development efforts to enhance resilience and explore new growth opportunities, focusing on satellite communications as a priority in its National Development Plan 2025–2028. The government is investing in low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites to strengthen communication and observation capabilities, reducing dependence on undersea cables. A key role is played by Taiwan's Space Agency (TASA) which is working with private companies to produce low-cost CubeSats.

Domestically developed CubeSats have been created with companies such as Pyras Technology and Rapidtek Technologies, and Taiwan has partnered with Japan to develop the ONGLAISAT Earth observation satellite. To foster collaboration with international players, Taiwan has launched the TASTI conference in 2023, with participation from countries such as Poland and the UK.

The government has significantly increased funding for space initiatives, starting with NT$25 billion for a 10-year program initiated in 2019 and an additional NT$40 billion planned for 2025. The Space Development Act, implemented in 2022, underscores the importance of space in national policy. Taiwan’s expertise in precision components and subsystems positions its industries as key players in satellite supply chains.

Although Taiwan relies on international launch providers such as the US and Europe, efforts are underway to develop its own launch systems and facilities, with operational capability expected after 2030. The nation is continuing its cooperation with the US through the Formosat Earth observation program, which is progressing with Formosat-8 and Formosat-9, with the first Formosat-8 satellites scheduled for launch in 2025. These initiatives demonstrate Taiwan’s strengthening its technological capabilities.

Read more about Taiwan's satellite development through this link (in German).

Taiwan's 2025 Economic Growth Forecast Adjusted to 3.22% Amid Global Uncertainty

Taiwan’s economy is projected to grow by 3.22% in 2025, according to the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER). This marks a slowdown from the estimated 4.3% growth in 2024 due to a high base and rising global uncertainties, particularly regarding U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s trade policies.

CIER highlighted concerns over potential tariffs, particularly on Taiwan's information technology exports, though Taiwan remains cautiously optimistic about growth driven by increasing trade and domestic demand. Exports in products and services are expected to grow by 5.56%, and private investments by 4.71%.

Taiwan's role as a key player in AI and high-performance computing (HPC) remains strong, with increasing global demand for AI-related exports. However, geopolitical tensions, including U.S. restrictions on technology exports, could affect Taiwan's economic trajectory. Inflation in 2025 is predicted to stay moderate at 1.93%, provided utility rates remain stable.

Taiwanese Outbound Investment Hits Record High in 2024

Taiwanese firms achieved a historic milestone in 2024, with approved outbound investments reaching US$44.93 billion—a 90.57% increase from 2023, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs. This surge was primarily driven by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC)'s substantial investments in advanced fabs in the U.S. and Japan, totaling over US$65 billion.

Other notable investments included WT Microelectronics Co.’s US$3.98 billion acquisition of Canada’s Future Electronics Inc. Additionally, investments under Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy rose 57.42% to US$8.72 billion, focusing on Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

While China-bound investments also grew 20.33% to US$3.65 billion, inbound foreign investments decreased 30.18% from a high base in 2023, despite significant contributions from ASML and Microsoft. Meanwhile, inbound investments from China soared 901.04% to US$297 million, led by Cloud Network Technology Singapore Pte Ltd.'s NT$9 billion infusion into its Taiwan operations.

Since lifting restrictions on Chinese investment in 2009, Taiwan has approved a cumulative US$2.89 billion in funds from China.

(Last access: 20.01.2025 / Focus Taiwan)

Taiwan Navigation Company Orders Two Energy-Efficient Bulk Carriers

Taiwan Navigation Company has commissioned two 64,000-tonne energy-efficient bulk carriers from Japan's Oshima Shipbuilding Company and Sumiso Marine Company, with delivery expected in 2028.

The order aligns with the company's fleet renewal strategy, as vessels reaching 15 years of age are replaced to maintain a competitive average fleet age of under five years. The company had previously modernized its fleet by replacing 12 aging ships in 2024.

Founded in 1946, Taiwan Navigation operates a fleet of 21 vessels, including timber and bulk carriers, with 20 being energy-efficient. Its largest shareholders include the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (26.46%) and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (16.96%).

The company has also announced a 3%–4% salary increase for employees this year, alongside a performance bonus of one month and a four-month year-end bonus.

(Last access: 20.01.2025 / Taiwan News)

Taiwan Poised to Play Key Role in Humanoid Robot Supply Chain

Taiwanese manufacturers, such as Tongtai Machine & Tool Co., Ltd., are well-positioned to contribute to the humanoid robot supply chain by producing essential components like harmonic drives and planetary gearboxes, according to Tongtai Chairman Yen Jui-hsiung. This capability could integrate Taiwan into the U.S. robotics supply chain.

High production costs remain a barrier to wider adoption of humanoid robots, but Yen believes cost reductions could enable Taiwanese manufacturers to play a critical role.

The remarks come after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's recent visit to Taipei, where he highlighted Nvidia’s collaboration with TSMC on robotics and autonomous vehicles. Nvidia’s new Thor Blackwell Robotics Processor is expected to advance humanoid robot and autonomous system development.

Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced plans to ramp up production of Optimus humanoid robots, aiming for up to 100,000 units by 2026 and 500,000 annually by 2027. Taiwan's manufacturing prowess could support this emerging industry.