Attracted by the nation’s research and development (R&D) expertise, more overseas Taiwanese businesspeople have expressed interest in investing in Taiwan, especially in the green energy industry, an Asia Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce (ASTCC) official said yesterday.
“The nation’s R&D technologies may help accelerate more Asia Taiwanese businesses to transform and join emerging industries, such as the green energy industry,” ASTCC chairman Andy Lo told reporters.
Most overseas Taiwanese businesspeople are seeking to renovate companies to a higher value-added business mode, as these established firms — mostly founded about 20 years ago — tend to belong to traditional industries, making it difficult for them to earn higher profits, Lo said
In the Greater China area, Taiwan has the best conditions to be an R&D center, Lo said, adding that this was the main factor attracting overseas Taiwanese businesses, which are increasing investments and considering setting up R&D headquarters in Taiwan.
The Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) held an “Invest in Taiwan” roadshow at the ASTCC’s annual conference yesterday, hoping to lure more investment from overseas Taiwanese businesspeople.
This is the council’s second roadshow in Taipei. The first was held in August last year when the council launched the “Invest in Taiwan” project. The council has also organized three overseas roadshows in Singapore, India and the US — with a fourth planned for next month in Japan.
Other than the green energy industry, Council for Economic Planning and Development Minister Christina Liu expects the cultural and creative industries to be another sector that attracts overseas Taiwanese, because overseas venture capital firms have expressed interest in investing in the sector.
President Ma Ying-jeou said at the roadshow that the government’s gradual relaxation of the investment ceiling and the “12 Love Taiwan Construction Projects” have attracted more overseas Taiwanese businesspeople to invest in Taiwan.
“There are 27 overseas Taiwanese companies showing their intent to invest a total of NT$108.3 billion [US$3.74 billion] in Taiwan,” Ma said, citing figures from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Overseas Taiwanese businesses invested NT$97.5 billion in -Taiwan from 2008 to last year, while -investing a total of NT$25.3 billion in the first half of this year, the ministry’s data showed.
Yesterday’s roadshow drew 930 participants — 300 overseas Taiwanese businesses from 13 Asian countries and 630 representatives from local companies and associations, the council said.
