2021-11-25
In order to attract more investments by Japanese firms that would help to promote a green transformation in Taiwan's economy, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and Japan's Mizuho Bank jointly held the "2021 InvesTaiwan Roadshow – Japan" event on 25 November at the Regent Taipei Hotel, with simultaneous online attendance in Japan. The event attracted a total in-person attendance of more than 100 senior executives of Japanese firms in Taiwan, while another 500 representatives of Japanese firms attended online.
At the event, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs C.C. Chen stated that while the COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on the global economy, Taiwan's effective containment of the domestic spread of COVID-19 has enabled our economy to achieve positive export growth for 21 consecutive months, and our economic growth rate this year is expected to hit 6%. Japan is the fourth largest source of foreign direct investment into Taiwan, our government attaches great importance to cooperation with Japan on investments and technology, and the pace of Japanese FDI into Taiwan has not slowed down. Such firms as Tokuyama Corporation, FST Corporation, NITTOBO ASIA Glass Fiber Co., and Taiwan Copper Foil Co. continue to expand their presence in Taiwan and have brought in excellent technologies. This shows that cooperation between Taiwan and Japan is a sure-fire recipe for success.
Deputy Minister Chen explained that net zero carbon reduction will be a key factor affecting the competitiveness of Taiwanese industries. The MOEA is going to promote green energy, carbon reduction, the circular economy, hydrogen energy, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. The MOEA has also joined hands with large corporations, working together with them via their supply chains to employ a "big companies lead the way" approach to achieve the goal of carbon reduction. We hope to cooperate with Japanese enterprises on this issue to build out a fully formed ecosystem.
Executive Vice President Seiji Imai of the Mizuho Financial Group noted that Mizuho Bank and InvesTaiwan in 2019 signed an MOU under which the two parties agreed to cooperate in supporting Japanese firms with their investments in Taiwan. He said that NITTOBO ASIA Glass Fiber Co., which shared its Taiwan investment experience at the Roadshow, is an excellent example. Vice President Imai said he feels confident that the Roadshow platform will help Japanese firms to develop a deeper understanding of Taiwan, and will spur still further industrial cooperation between Taiwan and Japan.
TSMC Senior Vice President Lora Ho stated that her company attaches great importance to green manufacturing, has adopted "net zero by 2050" as a long-term carbon reduction goal, and will work with its 1,200 suppliers in a shared effort to reduce carbon emissions and manufacture products that feature both high performance and low power consumption. In addition to the zero waste manufacturing center that TSMC intends to build in Taichung, the company will follow up by building a second zero waste manufacturing center in Tainan. Senior Vice President Ho said that Japanese firms which have the technologies required for recycling of electronics waste are welcome to cooperate in these undertakings, and she called upon Japanese firms to set up R&D centers in Taiwan as a means of cooperating with TSMC in an effort to accelerate the development of advanced manufacturing processes and reduce overlapping investments in equipment.
Kanken Techno was represented at the Roadshow by Vice President Koichi Imamura and Jun Morihara (director of the company's technology development division). They stated that Kanken Techno provides advanced equipment that can facilitate environmental protection, and their company stands ready to join with Taiwanese customers in jointly seizing upon the business opportunities being generated by Taiwan's transformation to green supply chains. President Yasuhito Kawase of Refine Holdings Co. stated that his company provides the semiconductor industry with renewable high-purity solvents that facilitate environmental protection, resource recycling, and cost reductions. Chairman Hisanobu Hayashi of NITTOBO ASIA Glass Fiber Co. spoke about how his company, as a leading international producer of fiberglass for electronics, very highly values Taiwan's comprehensive industrial clusters in the semiconductor and electronics sectors. He also thanked the MOEA and the Chiayi County government for their support, which helped ensure that NITTOBO's new plant in Chiayi was able to commence operations on schedule this past September. In the future, he said, NITTOBO intends to localize its supply chain in Taiwan.
And finally, InvesTaiwan CEO Emile M. P. Chang and Mitsuaki Hoshino (Chief Deputy Representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, Taipei Office) engaged in dialogue. Mr. Chang said that foreign firms are very welcome to invest in Taiwan, and InvesTaiwan is always prepared to help eliminate barriers and ensure that investments proceed smoothly. Mr. Hoshino said that both Taiwan and Japan work together quite well in semiconductor-related fields. Noting that the rapid development of the Internet of Things means that data processing and sensing devices are being produced in massive quantities, and that this in turn is generating demand for these devices to feature low power consumption and high performance, Mr. Hoshino expressed confidence that there will be more potential in the future for cooperation between Taiwan and Japan.
Due to the appearance of COVID variants, the pandemic has continued to affect global FDI this year, but the MOEA has continued to carry out investment roadshows at the same pace as before, and will continue focusing on the needs of key digital-age industries as well as the various demands that accompany green transformation. By improving online roadshow events and providing foreign firms with better investment services, we intend to encourage more foreign investment in Taiwan.
Spokesperson: Victoria H. P. Hsieh, Deputy Director General, Dept. of Investment Services
Telephone: +886 (02) 2389-2111 ext. 810
Email: hphsieh@moea.gov.tw
Business Contact: Ying-Ju Chen, Section Chief, Dept. of Investment Services
Telephone: +886 (02) 2389-2111 ext. 210
Email: yjchen2@moea.gov.tw
Activities & Photos
Source： Department of Investment Services,MOEA
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