TDCC’s ePASSBOOK app advanced features allow users to cast board meeting votes

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/05/09
By: Judy Lin,Taiwan News, Staff Reporter

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)—There has been much activity in the FinTech industry in

Taiwan lately following Apple and Samsung’s launch of their mobile payment apps, but before that Taiwan’s Depository and Clearing Corp. (TDCC) already launched an advanced business to business (B2B) mobile app targeting investors, stock brokers, consultants, financial institutes, and companies.

TDCC and its app development partner Chunghwa Telecom (中華電信) officially launched the latest version of the ePASSBOOK app on Friday at Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (松山菸文創區) in the Xinyi district of Taipei.

The ePASSBOOK app, which has been available for download since March 29, 2017, received about 70,000 applicants from financial institutes, and more than 60,000 users have downloaded the mobile app,” said TDCC Chairman Sherman Lin (林修銘).    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/05/09
By: Tsai Yi-chu and Elaine Hou

Taipei, May 9 (CNA) The average national debt shouldered by each citizen in Taiwan

remained flat for a third consecutive month at the end of April, according to the latest statistics released by the Ministry of Finance.

The national per capita debt at the end of April was about NT$240,000 (US$7,927), according to the ministry’s National Treasury Administration.

At the end of April, Taiwan’s outstanding long-term debt with a maturity of more than one year totaled NT$5.43 trillion, while the country’s short-term debt was NT$222.9 billion, it said.

Meanwhile, the ministry also eased concerns that the national debt could soar, with the administration of President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) planning to spend NT$880 billion over the next eight years on infrastructure projects that are projected to create 40,000 to 50,000 new jobs.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: May 10, 2017
By: The China Post news staff

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Citibank is accepting applications for its 2017 Citi Taiwan

Internship Program, a two-month long program in the summer in the fields of corporate banking, consumer banking, operations and technology, among others.

This year, the international corporation is looking to take on 60 undergraduate or graduate students in Taiwan for the summer, pairing them with mentors who will guide them through their time at Citibank.

Successful interns will receive priority to interview for the management associate (MA) position or transition straight to a full-time position at the company.
[FULL  STORY]

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/05/08
By: George Liao, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News)–Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau said Monday that the government gave a total of less than NT$20 million (US$650,000) of subsidies to members of 297 foreign tour groups last year, but providing the aid generated NT$800 million of foreign exchange earnings in return in a rebuttal to an online rumor.

The bureau issued a statement on Monday afternoon to rebut a rumor circulating on social media that the government gave a subsidy of NT$500 for every attraction a foreign tourist visited in order to attract more foreign tourists and make the government’s New Southbound Policy look good.

The bureau said that subsidies were given to tour groups instead of individuals and the purpose of providing such financial aid is to attract more foreign tourists to Taiwan and generate more incomes from foreign exchange for the country.
[FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/05/08
By: Huang Li-yun and Lilian Wu

Taipei, May 8 (CNA) State-owned Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) was on high alert against potential power shortages Monday after power consumption soared at a time when four out of six nuclear power reactors nationwide are non-operational.

Taipower said power consumption on Monday peaked at 31.5 million kilowatts (KW) at 2:36 p.m, with operating reserves at 5.49 percent, flashing an orange warning light for the second time in May.

An orange warning indicates operating reserves below 6 percent, with red and black warnings issued when reserves fall to less than 900,000 and 500,000 kilowatts respectively.    [FULL  STORY]

The China Post
Date: May 9, 2017
By: Christine Chou

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Xiaomi announced on Monday it has sold over 15,000 robot

vacuum cleaners since it launched the product in Taiwan a month ago.
With sales beating their expectations, Xiaomi said it has placed more orders for the coming Mother’s Day, with the extra units scheduled to go on sale at noon on Tuesday.

The Xiaomi cleaner’s stellar first-month sales performance is driving up market demand for robot vacuum cleaners across the country. Last year there were around 100,000 cleaners sold in Taiwan, according to market analyst estimates.

Xiaomi’s cleaner is priced at less than NT$9,000 each, compared to some competing firms that are charging more than double that price. Xiaomi Taiwan’s general manager Henman Lee (李佳峰) has said the introduction of the new product in Taiwan is part of the company’s plans to test the waters before breaking into other markets.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/05/07
By: Tsai Yi-chu and Evelyn Kao

Taipei, May 7 (CNA) Over 90 percent of office workers in Taiwan plan to celebrate

Mother’s Day and will budget NT$5,544 (US$183.70) on average on celebrations, according to a poll released Sunday ahead of Mother’s Day, which falls on May 14.

The poll by the online job bank yes123 shows that 90.1 percent of office workers plan to celebrate Mother’s Day this year, with the percentage being higher than the 87.4 percent recorded in a similar poll last year and the highest in four years.

The major ways for celebrating Mother’s Day include having a meal with family, giving a present, buying a cake or taking a trip.    [FULL  STORY]