Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2017-06-26

President Tsai Ing-wen says she hopes that Taiwan can become a global powerhouse in the area of

biomedical technology. She was speaking Monday while visiting the Hsinchu Biomedical Park.

Taiwan’s government has been pushing for innovation in the biomedical industry. Tsai said that when it comes to development in those areas, Taiwan is in a race against time. She said that increasing international competition means the local industry must speed up its development, increase efficiency and innovation, and connect with the global community.

She said, though, that because the local industry is smaller in scale both in terms of manufacturing and R & D, a collective effort is needed. The president said the economics ministry has already organized a marketing team to offer assistance.

“We want to use a ‘national team’ as a way to support potential manufacturers, connect with international pharmaceutical marketing channels, and attract export orders,” said Tsai.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/06/26
By: Tang Pei-chun and S.C. Chang

Brussels, June 26 (CNA) Two Taiwanese ministers headed a large delegation in a meeting with European

officials and business leaders in Brussels on Monday to explore the possibility of cooperating in developing industries of the future.

Minister Without Portfolio John Deng (鄧振中) and environmental chief Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) were at the head of a 110-member delegation attending the two-day EU-Taiwan Event on Industry of the Future.

Deng said Taiwan is promoting artificial intelligence, auto-driving, green energy and other industries based on circular economy concepts.

“We’re seeking close cooperation with our European partners,” he told the meeting.    [FULL  STORY]

NEW BOSS:Chang Kuo-hua’s elder brother, Chang Kuo-wei, has taken over leadership of the company following a succession battle after the death of the company’s founder

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 27, 2017
By: Ted Chen / Staff reporter

Former EVA Air Corp (長榮航空) chairman Chang Kuo-wei (張國煒) yesterday completed his exit from the

company as he prepares to reenter the industry with his own carrier, StarLux Airlines (星宇航空).

Although Chang remains a major shareholder in the company with a 11.45 percent stake, after its board of directors election yesterday he has made a clean exit from EVA Air.

With his stake, Chang could have appointed up to two representatives on EVA Air’s board, market commentators have said.

Meanwhile, leadership of the company has been fully secured by Chang Kuo-hua (張國華), Chang Kuo-wei’s elder brother, who has prevailed in the succession battle that followed the death last year of Evergreen Group (長榮集團) founder Chang Yung-fa (張榮發).

EVA Air chairman Steve Lin (林寶水) gave shareholders a cautious outlook on earnings for the second half of this year, saying that the company is expecting to see a recovery in the peak summer season, but prospects are not as favorable as in previous years.

Lin said that the carrier expects to see its load factor increase by 20 percent annually, as efforts from the past two years to improve transfer routes in North America and Southeast Asia begin to take hold.    [FULL  STORY]

The artisan shop, located in the northern area of the Park, carries many wood and bamboo products from local artisans, while also offering visitors a space to relax with a cup of coffee and enjoy the natural and healing environment.

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/06/25
By: Wendy Lee , Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – I-Mei Gourmet Supplier Co. (義美吉盛), a subsidiary of I-Mei Foods Co. (義美食

品), announced Saturday its operation in Yilan Luodong Forestry Culture Park (羅東林業文化園區).

Named “Sen Yi Hall” (森藝館, literally means forest and crafts), the store features displays of locally made wood crafts and sells a variety of quality crafts, to promote Yilan County’s local forest industry and leisure and recreation industry.

The site, established during the Japanese colonial period, was originally used to house staff at the former forestry center as well as for log storage. The restoration and rebuilding of the old houses was part of the Yilan government’s effort to boost the development of the county’s cultural and creative industry.

Attending the opening ceremony of the Sen Yi Hall, I-Mei Gourmet Supplier Co. Chairman Luis Ko (高志明) said today in his speech that Yilan is such a beautiful place to visit, the company is here to share its business experience with local industry, and has devoted much of its attention to increase the cultural visibility of Yilan.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/06/25
By: Yang Shu-min and S.C. Chang

Taipei, June 25 (CNA) An industry leader expressed worry on Sunday that Taiwan could be further

isolated and more of its businesses forced to move overseas if a reported free trade agreement (FTA) between Japan and Europe becomes a reality.

Tsai Lien-sheng (蔡練生), secretary general of the Taipei-based Chinese National Federation of Industries (CNFI), said there is little chance that Japan would help Taiwan integrate into the global trading system after it signs an FTA with Europe, as reported by the New York Times (NYT) and local media.

A United Evening News report cited the NYT as reporting that such an agreement, in part aimed at countering rising protectionism in the United States led by President Donald Trump, could be inked within the coming week at the earliest.

As Taiwanese products often have to compete with their Japanese counterparts globally, some local academics see the upcoming Japan-EU FTA as likely to have an adverse impact on Taiwan.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/06/24
By: Tien Yu-pin and Frances Huang

Taipei, June 24 (CNA) Taiwan’s gross domestic product (GDP) for 2017 is expected to grow more than 2 percent on the back of a global economic recovery, but may slow down in the third quarter of the year, according to Cathay Financial Holding Co. (國泰金).

Cathay Financial, one of the leading financial holding firms in Taiwan, said in a research paper that it was retaining its forecast of 2.1 percent economic growth in 2017.

Several other financial institutions and economic think tanks have also forecast that Taiwan’s GDP growth will top 2 percent in 2017, compared with a 1.52 percent increase in 2016.

The government, meanwhile, has upgraded its 2017 GDP growth forecast to 2.05 percent from 1.92 percent.    [FULL  STORY]

VALUE-ADDED SERVICES:Company president Yvonne Li said that subscribers to services such as its mobile wallet and videos are expected to reach 20 million by 2020

Taipei Times
Date: Jun 24, 2017
By Lisa Wang / Staff reporter

Far EasTone Telecommunications Co Ltd (遠傳電信) aims to more than triple revenue contributions from

its value-added services to 20 percent within three years on fast-growing demand for its online payment services and mobile video subscriptions.

Value-added services accounted for 6 percent of Far EasTone’s overall revenue in the first half as it has accumulated 9.4 million customers for the services, the nation’s No. 3 telecom said.

“We hope to increase that to 20 percent in 2020,” Far EasTone president Yvonne Li (李彬) told reporters on the sidelines of its annual general meeting yesterday.

By that time, the number of subscribers to value-added services is expected to reach 20 million, Li said.    [FULL  STORY]