Association to employ 'airport economics' integrating gov. policy with industry trends to promote investment, competitiveness

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/20
By: Duncan Deaeth, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taoyuan International Airport Industry Development Association (桃園市國際機場產業發展協會) held its inaugural meeting on Thursday (Sept. 19), which was attended by Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦).

Mayor Cheng said that the purpose of the association is to promote “airport economics” to maximize Taoyuan Airport’s benefit to the national development of the country. As a non-governmental organization, the association hopes to serve as an intermediary between the industry, consumers, and educational institutes to assist in further integrating Taiwan’s tourism and transportation industries by researching and recommending policy initiatives.

The association selected Nancy Ku (古素琴), head of the Tasa Meng Corp. (采盟), to serve as the association’s first chairperson, while Agi Chan (詹成吉) from I-Mei Foods Co. will serve as the executive director. The association’s vice-chair will be Wu Hsiu-kuang (吳秀光) of the Everrich Group, reports CNA.

With the Taoyuan special industrial zone under development and a new airport terminal in the works, the area will be a major contributor to Taiwan’s total economic activity. As a gateway to the country and a symbol of progress, Cheng continued, Taoyuan International Airport should do everything it can to attract more foreign and domestic development.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/20
By: Christie Chen

Taipei, Sept. 20 (CNA) Taiwan shares closed up 34.99 points, or 0.32 percent, at 10,929.69 Friday on turnover of NT$144.52 billion (US$4.67 billion).    [SOURCE]

US officials, more than 20 members of Congress attend signing ceremony

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/19
By: Teng Pei-ju, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A Taiwanese delegation signed an agreement with the U.S. on Wednesday (Sept. 18) to purchase billions of dollars worth of corn, soybeans, and beef from American farmers.

The delegation, led by Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季), sealed the US$3.7 billion (NT$114 billion) deal with local agricultural companies on Capitol Hill on Wednesday (Sept. 18). David Stilwell, assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, attended the signing ceremony to show his support for the economic ties between the two countries, according to reports.

Over the past four decades, Taiwan and the U.S. have developed a comprehensive and long-enduring relationship, sharing common interests and values based on the Taiwan Relations Act and “one-China” policy, remarked Stilwell. The first of his post to attend an event hosted by the Taiwanese authorities, Stilwell said the ceremony can be seen as an example of the two countries’ solid friendship.

A bipartisan group of more than 20 representatives and senators were among those who witnessed the signing of the memorandum of understanding, including those representing the states of Oklahoma, Georgia, Kansas, and Minnesota, where agriculture plays an important role in the local economy.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/19
By: Wu Chia-jung, Pan Tzu-yu and Frances Huang

Taipei, Sept. 19 (CNA) The local central bank forecast Thursday gross domestic product (GDP) growth in Taiwan of 2.34 percent for 2020, with domestic demand expected to drive growth.

However, the forecast for 2020 is lower than the 2.40 percent increase expected by the central bank for 2019, after increasing its forecast for the year by 0.34 percentage points from the previous forecast in June.

It was the first time the bank has given a GDP growth forecast for 2020.

The central bank was more cautious about the local economy than the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, which forecast in late August that Taiwan's GDP will grow 2.46 percent and 2.58 percent in 2019 and 2020, respectively.    [FULL  STORY]

CONCERTED EFFORT: The company has been striving to catch up with its rivals since the release of 2G chips, but its chairman said it is definitely now a leading 5G developer

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 20, 2019
By: Lisa Wang  /  Staff reporter, in Hsinchu

Mobile phone chip designer MediaTek Inc (聯發科) yesterday said that it has invested NT$100 billion

(US$3.23 billion) — part of which was spent on a team of 3,000 engineers — to grow its 5G technological capabilities and capture the market in its prime.

The company entered the mobile phone chip market in 2000, offering 2G chips.

As each new generation of wireless technology has been released since, the company has been striving to catch up with rivals such as Qualcomm Inc.

Three years ago, the company started to allocate 20 to 30 percent of its annual research and development spending to 5G technology, MediaTek chief financial officer David Ku (顧大為) said, adding that the company budgeted between NT$50 billion and NT$60 billion per year for research and development.

“We will continue expanding our 5G team over time,” Ku said.    [FULL  STORY]

Island’s machine tool manufacturers faced with stiffer competition from China and S Korea

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/18
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan needs to step up its investment in machine tool industry upgrades amid increased competition from China and South Korea that is bringing about a qualitative change in the sector, according to an industry expert.

Eric Chuo (卓永財), founder of Hiwin Technologies Corp., made the case for Taiwan to boost its machine tool manufacturing prowess through three approaches. These are cooperation between the industry and academia, expanded investment in research and development, and restructuring, reported CNA.

Hiwin, a major manufacturer of linear motor products, is one of the Taiwanese heavyweights to participate in EMO Hannover 2019 taking place Sept. 16 to 19, according to CNA.

Chuo said he has observed the enhanced quality of machine tools presented by South Korean and Chinese manufacturers at the expo. Taiwan should pursue a value-added resolution to keep ahead of the competition, he added.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2019/09/18
By William Yen

Taipei, Sept. 18 (CNA) Various companies from the Philippines are among more than 700 exhibitors from 43 countries that are seeking to supply electronic solutions and materials to the Taiwanese market.

The three-day Semicon semiconductor trade show, which opened Wednesday at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, is expected to draw 50,000 visitors, as for the ninth consecutive year, Taiwan remains top globally in semiconductor equipment spending at US$11.4 billion, according to SEMI, a global industry association of semiconductor equipment and material suppliers.

Michael Alfred V. Ignacio, director of commercial affairs at the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Taipei, told CNA that his office has been positioning the Philippines as the best partner for Taiwan in industrial collaboration because they can use their combined strengths to their advantage.

"Taiwan is a world leader in electronics and semiconductors, but the Philippines has the market, the workforce and the skills," Ignacio said, adding companies in the Philippines can provide manufacturing solutions for Taiwanese companies.    [FULL  STORY]

MOORE’S LAW: The company’s chairman said he is confident that the industry would continue to grow, but called on the government to encourage university research

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 19, 2019
By: Lisa Wang  /  Staff reporter

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) chairman Mark Liu (劉德音) yesterday said

that he is optimistic about the semiconductor industry’s future growth, as Moore’s Law is alive and well, and should continue to drive industry growth.

Data from international trade group SEMI showed that over the past six decades, global semiconductor revenue has grown to US$480 billion, following the path of Moore’s Law, former Intel Corp CEO Golden Moore’s observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years, while the cost per transistor is halved.

Debates have been going on whether a slowing of that ratio would hamper the industry’s growth.

“People have asked: Will semiconductors evolve for another 60 years? I’m optimistic about this,” Liu said in a speech to a think tank summit organized by SEMI in Taipei as part of the three-day SEMICON Taiwan show at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, which opened yesterday.
[FULL  STORY]

Maitre to lead continued push into 5G, AI and XR

Taiwan News
Date: 2019/09/17
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan electronics brand HTC Corporation has appointed Frenchman Yves

Maitre as its new CEO, though his predecessor Cher Wang (王雪紅) will stay on as chairwoman of the company.

Maitre hails from telecom company Orange, formerly known as France Telecom, where he served as executive vice president of consumer equipment and partnerships.

In an official statement, Wang said that as CEO over the past four years, she set out to transform the smartphone maker into a force in 5G and extended reality (XR).

Maitre’s appointment, effective immediately, was designed to “embrace the 5G, AI and XR future,” the company’s statement said. Wang described him as a strong leader who had already a long history of contacts with HTC.    [FULL  STORY]