Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/09/09
By: Liao Yu-yang and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, Sept. 9 (CNA) Taiwanese businesses are mulling moving manufacturing

operations from China amid the intensifying trade war between the Washington and Beijing, with those in the textile, electronics and bicycle industries most likely to relocate operations, according to the latest survey released by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

The U.S. imposed a 25 percent tariff on up to US$50 billion of Chinese goods in July and is threatening tariffs on an additional US$200 billion.

China-based Taiwanese businesses could be badly hit if trade tensions between the U.S. and China heat up further, experts have warned.

The intensifying trade war could cause Taiwanese businesses with operations in China to withdraw, Economic Minister Shen Jong-chin (沈榮津) said, noting that in the 1990s, many Taiwanese manufacturers set up factories in China due to higher land, labor costs and strict environmental protection regulations in Taiwan.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan  
Date: 2018/09/08
By:  Central News Agency

With the Ghost Month on the lunar calendar affecting buying interest, Taiwan’s car sales in August fell almost 40 percent from a month earlier, according to statistics compiled by transportation authorities.

The data showed 26,035 vehicles were sold in Taiwan in August, down 39.5 percent from a month earlier and also down 28.8 percent from a year earlier.

In Taiwan, consumers tend not to buy big-ticket items like cars and homes during Ghost Month — the seventh month on the lunar calendar — to avoid bad luck.

This year’s Ghost Month kicked off on Aug. 11 and will run through Sept. 9.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/09/08
By: Liao Yu-yang and Frances Huang

Taipei, Sept. 8 (CNA) The hiring outlook for the fourth quarter of this year weakened amid rising uncertainty over the economy at a time of escalating trade friction between the United States and China, according to a survey released by 1111 online job bank.

The job bank said 54.89 percent of enterprises polled in the survey said they are planning to launch recruitment campaigns in the fourth quarter, down 2.61 percent from a year earlier.

Henry Ho (何啟聖), vice president of the job bank, said although more employers expect the economic climate to fare better in the fourth quarter than those who think the opposite, negative factors from rising trade disputes between Washington and Beijing remain a concern.

Faced with such uncertainty from the top two economies in the world, enterprises prefer to remain cautious on business expansion, Ho said.    [FULL  STORY]

PR News Wire
Date: September 06, 2018
By: UBM Asia Ltd., Taiwan Branch 

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Sept. 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The ‘Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair 2018′ will be held on November 2nd-5that Taipei World Trade Center, Hall 1. UBM Taiwan has teamed up with Taiwan Jewelry Industry Association and Taipei Jewelers’ Association to facilitate a B2B platform showcasing cutting-edge trends in the jewellery Industry. The grand 4-day exhibition attracted exhibitors from 11 countries, including Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Myanmar, Poland, Switzerland, Thailand, USA and more.

A successful launch in Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair 2017

Glamour Fine Jewelry will showcase a 6.00-carat fancy light pink diamond ring and a 15.00-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond ring.

Harry Lu’s cat collection, titled ‘Refined’, is an intricate blend of diamonds, sapphires, Tsavorite and moonstones.

“The jewellery industry is inclined to buyer market this year, this has therefore become more competitive for upstream companies. The show highlights high jewellery, brand designers and bridal jewellery with a combination of quality, price, and function — targeting mainstream consumers.  We aim to provide an ideal platform to expand visitor portfolio and help exhibitors discover potential business,” stated Ms. Sabine Liu, General Manager of UBM Taiwan.

Glamour Fine Jewelry, renowned for its innovative creativity and rigorous craftsmanship in the fine jewelry league, will be showcasing a 6.00-carat fancy light pink diamond ring with clarity grade of VS1. The exquisite piece is believed to be a smart investment before the closure of Argyle Mine in 2020. Outstripping the coveted pink gives a stunning IF clarity, 15.00-carat fancy vivid yellow diamond ring; which simultaneously shares the limelight at the show.  “Jewellery investment will never go out of fashion. We are excited and eagerly looking forward to meeting new clients this year,” highlighted Glamour Fine Jewelry.

Harry Lu, a newly-rised chic jewellery designer, who served in IT industry up to 20 years started jewellery design after his retirement in 2015.  Inspired by his family members and daily life, Harry writes poetry with jewellery design.  Behind each of Harry Lu’s opulent pieces tell a heart-warming story.  His cat collection, titled ‘Refined’, is an intricate blend of diamonds, sapphires, Tsavorite and moonstones; while ‘Glamour’, is bejewelled with ruby, black diamonds, diamond, tourmaline, Tsavorite and spinel.  A series of Lifestyle Collection, such as ‘Innocence,’ ‘Heart of Forest’ and ‘Starry Sky’ will be introduced in his debut at the trade show.    [FULL  STORY]

Philippine government, industry groups promote Taiwan-Philippines electronics collaboration at world’s second-largest electronics trade show

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/09/07
By: Scott Morgan, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Among a host of plain booths, the Philippines electronics and

semiconductor promotion booth colorfully and confidently promoted the Philippines as win-win partner for Taiwan’s electronics industry during the SEMICON Taiwan 2018 on Sept. 5-7.

As Taiwan shows strong growth in electronics output, the Philippines is positioning itself as win-win partner for Taiwan’s electronics industry.

SEMICON Taiwan 2018, hosted in Taipei, is the world’s second-largestsemiconductor exhibition for the year. The exhibition had over 2,000 booths on the exhibition floor, and focused on the next generation of electronics, including Internet of Things and smart manufacturing.

The Philippines booth was organized by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center Taipei, which is part of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), and included a trade delegation from the Electronic Industries Association of the Philippines (EIAP).
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/09/07
By: Pan Tsu-yu and Frances Huang

Taipei, Sept. 7 (CNA) Almost 85 percent of households in Taiwan had their own homes in

2017, according to the results of a survey released Friday by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS).

The survey found that 84.83 percent of Taiwanese households owned their own homes, a ratio that was down slightly by 0.53 percentage points from a year earlier.

The DGBAS said Taiwanese tend to buy property as a way of keeping their wealth.

The DGBAS added that this is unlikely to change any time soon.    [FULL  STORY]

HIGH SEASON: The finance ministry said it was not clear whether the US-China trade war might have caused the slowdown, while the economy ministry saw an opportunity

Taipei Times
Date: Sep 08, 2018
By: Crystal Hsu  /  Staff reporter

Exports rose a mild 1.9 percent from last year to US$28.3 billion last month, the weakest

growth in nearly two years as demand for electronic components picked up, but short of what was forecast for the high season, the Ministry of Finance said yesterday.

The critical economic gauge could slip into negative territory this month, due to fewer working days and a high comparison base last year, Department of Statistics Director-General Beatrice Tsai (蔡美娜) said.

“Exports for this quarter will have difficulty meeting the government’s forecast after all, based on the showing thus far,” Tsai told a news conference in Taipei.

The Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics last month forecast that exports would increase 3 percent year-on-year to US$86.43 billion during the July-to-September period.    [FULL  STORY]

US organization FIRST is committed to developing robotics education by hosting high school competitions around the world

Taiwan News 
Date: 2018/09/06
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The American non-profit organization For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) signed a letter of intent on cooperation in robotics development with Central Taiwan Science Park Administration at Taiwan’s AI Robotics Hub on Sept. 6.

FIRST is dedicated to the advancement of robotics and AI technology and hosts the FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) every year for high school students, with competitions taking place across more than 20 countries and attracting over 3,000 teams. Winners emerging from regional competitions will advance to the finals in the U.S.

President Donald E. Bossi of FIRST expressed his support for Taiwan to bid for the right to host regional contests in the signing ceremony, where he also shared with the audience the tenets of the organization, explaining how such competitions help to nurture talent in the field, reported UDN.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2018/09/06
By: William Yen

Taipei, Sept. 6 (CNA) The Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Taipei (PTIC-

Taipei), the Commercial Affairs Section of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office in Taiwan, has set up a booth at SEMICON Taiwan 2018, in an effort to encourage Taiwanese and Philippine electronics firms to work more closely and further maximize global supply chain opportunities, according to the investment center.

SEMICON Taiwan 2018, the premier event in Taiwan for microelectronics manufacturing, kicked off Wednesday at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center and will run until Friday.

PTIC-Taipei said that the Philippine Electronics and Semiconductors Delegation plans to position the Philippines as Taiwan’s gateway for electronics industry expansion to target markets within the ASEAN countries in line with Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy.

At the same time, they aim to promote closer collaboration between Philippine and Taiwanese electronics firms to maximize the opportunities in the global supply chain.
[FULL  STORY]