Tariffs, trade barriers, and the AI boom—the global economy is navigating unprecedented developments, and German companies in Taiwan are no exception.

To better understand these developments, we are currently conducting our annual Business Confidence Survey. The survey addresses the latest developments and challenges shaping the business environment. Your input will help us advocate for a more favorable business climate. Simply put: the more voices we have, the stronger our impact will be.

We have already sent out the questionnaire to all German companies listed with us, please fill out the survey by January 15, 2026. The survey takes only 15 minutes to complete and is fully anonymous. 

As a token of appreciation, participants will have the option to enter a raffle for a ticket to one of our signature events—the GTO Goose Dinner or GTO Oktoberfest. You’ll be able to access the lottery entry after completing the survey.

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

Your participation is highly appreciated as every feedback counts!

Join us for the fifth edition of the joint online event series “Reise um die Welt”, co-hosted by AHK Hungary and the Association of Women Entrepreneurs in Germany (VdU).

This session will spotlight Korea and Taiwan, offering first-hand insights into local business environments, current economic developments, as well as key challenges and opportunities — including an in-depth overview of the Taiwan market by Dr. Eva Langerbeck, Cheif Representative and Executive Director of the German Trade Office Taipei.

• 5 February 2026 | 11:00 (CET)
• Online event via Microsoft Teams

The event will be held in German, without interpretation.

Interzoo 2026, the world’s largest and most influential trade fair for the pet industry, will once again bring together exhibitors and buyers from around the globe. Held every two years in Nuremberg, the show offers a comprehensive range of products from pet food and accessories to health care, grooming, and training supplies. The 2024 edition attracted 2,150 exhibitors from 68 countries and 37,000 professional buyers from 140 countries, making it the ideal platform to meet international buyers and tap into global markets.

Event Details

• Date: May 12–15, 2026

• Location: Nürnberg Messe: Nuremberg, German

For registration and further information, please contact Mr. Huang.

For more information visit our website.

In light of the European Union’s comprehensive sanctions against Russia, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) has introduced a newsletter on sanctions enforcement. It is published at irregular intervals and is aimed at interested associations, companies, as well as public and other institutions.

The newsletter’s primary goal is to provide businesses with a concise, practical overview of the current status of sanctions legislation, implementation, and enforcement—both in Germany and at the EU level, as well as among G7 partners. The political and legal framework for sanctions is becoming increasingly complex. At the same time, the risk for companies of unintentionally becoming involved in sanction-violating circumvention activities or unauthorized procurement attempts is growing. In parallel, the requirements for robust sanctions and trade compliance are increasing, including for subsidiaries and branches located abroad. This poses significant challenges, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises, which often lack extensive compliance structures.

Registration is possible via email at sanktionsoutreach@bmwe.bund.de.

Amphenol LTW, part of the global Amphenol Group, provides rugged interconnect solutions for industries like Factory Automation, Heavy Equipment, Renewable Energy, and AI Datacenters.

Currently seeking talented engineers to join a 3–12 month training program in Taiwan and/or China, gaining hands-on experience on the factory floor and expanding their technical expertise. Participants will provide technical support, design-in assistance, troubleshooting, and presentations for European customers, translating their requirements into engineering solutions and supporting the adoption of new products.

The role also offers the flexibility to work remotely from Europe, combined with frequent travel (50–60%) to customer sites.

Requirements:

• Native German speaker living in Taiwan

• EU citizenship

• Master’s degree in Engineering

• At least 2 years of technical experience

• please change it to Fluent English and native level German

• Willingness to relocate to Taiwan and/or China for the training program

• Experience in automation, heavy machinery, renewable energy, or interconnect solutions is a plus

Taiwan’s Per Capita GDP to Hit Record High as Wealth Gap Widens

Taiwan is on track to surpass a record NT$1.26 million (US$40,000) in per capita GDP this year, yet economists warn that industrial divergence and population decline could limit the benefits for workers, CNA reported Saturday. The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics (DGBAS) revised last year’s real GDP to 7.37%, its highest in 15 years, driven largely by demand for AI. Economic expansion is projected to moderate to 3.54% this year.

Despite rapid GDP growth, economic benefits remain concentrated. National Central University Professor Wu Ta-jen (吳大任) noted that over 7 million of Taiwan’s 11 million workers are in the service sector, which has little direct link to exports. In contrast, only about 300,000 are in semiconductor jobs, with roughly 1 million in the broader electronics sector. Wu warned that Taiwan’s K-shaped industrial divergence is intensifying, with high-tech exports thriving while service and traditional sectors lag. He urged government action to create business opportunities and boost domestic demand, especially for low-wage service workers.

(Last access: 12.01.2026 / Taiwan News)

70% of Taiwan Office Workers Unhappy at Work

More than 70% of office workers say they do not work at “happy workplaces,” according to a 1111 Job Bank survey published Friday. Job Bank said its latest Happy Workplace Survey put the employee happiness index at 53 points, down from 57 a year earlier, per CNA. Only 26.5% of respondents said they feel happy at work, while 73.5% said their companies do not qualify as happy workplaces.

Job Bank Spokesperson Huang Jo-wei (黃若薇) said economic pressures were the main drag on morale. Although some companies raised salaries, surging living costs eroded gains, while the rapid adoption of AI increased workloads and efficiency demands. The survey found dissatisfaction was driven primarily by pay issues. Workers cited long periods without raises or raises that were too small, followed by wages below market levels and low year-end bonuses. Excessive workloads also ranked as another major complaint.

(Last access: 12.01.2026 / Taiwan News)

TSMC Reports Record High Sales for 2025, Up Over 31%

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) broke its record for annual sales in 2025, with consolidated sales up 31 percent over the previous record set in 2024. In a statement, the world's largest contract chipmaker said it posted consolidated sales of NT$3.81 trillion in 2025, up 31.6 percent from NT$2.89 trillion in sales a year earlier.

Analysts attributed the growth to sustained strong global demand for AI applications, which boosted shipments of TSMC's advanced chips. TSMC also benefited from a recovery of non-AI end-user demand.

(Last access: 12.01.2026 / Focus Taiwan)

Taiwan's Aurotek Expects Rising Orders for Smart Manufacturing Robots

Aurotek Corp. expects orders for its smart manufacturing robots and modules to keep rising this year, with automation equipment and robotic products poised to be its main growth drivers. Aurotek has shifted from an automation equipment and industrial control manufacturer to a robot supplier. The company has launched robots and robotic arms for manufacturing, service, and logistics applications. Some of its robots are integrated with AI-powered systems for autonomous movement and collaborative work, per CNA.

 The company reported a record December revenue of NT$285 million (US$9 million), up 50.62% from November and 42.42% year over year. Full-year revenue reached NT$2.5 billion, a 50.12% increase from 2024, setting a new annual record. The company attributed the strong performance to rising orders for automation equipment and robots.