Slower increases in output, new orders and employment from December, according to IHS Markit

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/02/02
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The Nikkei Taiwan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index, or PMI, fell to 55.6 in January from a 68-month high of 56.2 in December, though the increases in output, total new orders and employment at the start of 2017 still look strong on the back of a higher production.

According to IHS Markit, which compiled the survey issued on Thursday, manufacturers faced a sharp increase in input costs amid reports of higher raw material prices in January, which translated into the selling prices again to protect their margins.

January survey data show that the rate of expansion was the second-steepest seen in 29 months, with China, Europe and the U.S. cited as key areas driving growth in new export work.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/02/02

Taipei, Feb. 2 (CNA) The Executive Yuan on Thursday approved a four-year economic

development plan to increase growth in gross domestic product (GDP) to 2.5-3 percent over the next four years.

For 2017, the National Development Council (NDC) will target GDP growth of 2-2.5 percent, which is higher than a forecast from the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics in November, which estimated grow of 1.87 percent for this year.

At a press conference to announce the 2017-2020 economic development plan, Executive Yuan spokesman Hsu Kuo-yung (徐國勇) quoted Premier Lin Chuan (林全) as saying the government considers the GDP growth target to be one of its major challenges.    [FULL  STORY]

Radio nTaiwan International
Date: 2017-02-01

 

Ms. Huang Mei-ying takes office as the head of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC) on Wednesday.

The FTC is an independent government agency under the Cabinet. It is responsible for setting trade policy, laws and regulations, and of monitoring unfair trade practices in Taiwan.

Huang is a professor and the head of the economics program of National Taipei University. She said at the transition ceremony on Wednesday that she is appreciative of the trust bestowed on her by the members of the commission and she will work hard with her team to regulate the marketplace.

Huang laid out her goals for the near future. They include enhancing cross-departmental collaboration, more in-depth research on necessary policies for the new economy, stricter control over multilevel marketing, more collaboration with agencies from abroad, and lastly, a push for an amendment which will allow the FTC to seize key evidence in potential trade breaches.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/02/01
By Han Ting-ting and Frances Huang

Taipei, Feb. 1 (CNA) Members of the board of directors at Uni-President Enterprises Corp. (統一) were the highest paid in that category in 2015 among companies listed on the local main board, according to the latest statistics from the Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE).

Uni-President, one of the leading food suppliers in Taiwan, paid its chairman and members of its board an average NT$62.66 million (US$2 million) each in 2015, above the pay offered even by the high-tech giants in the country, the data showed.

According to the statistics, Uni-President’s bottom line was boosted by its operations in the China market and the company posted NT$2.48 in earnings per share in 2015, up from NT$1.96 the previous year.

Its total payment to its directors in 2015 accounted for 5.58 percent of its earnings that year, the data showed.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/01/30
By: Liu Te-chang and Elizabeth Hsu

Bangkok, Jan. 30 (CNA) Taiwan has surpassed Hong Kong to become the second

favorite overseas travel destination searched for by Thai travelers, thanks to the introduction of a 30-day visa waiver program for Thailand, according to the latest data on Skyscanner, a global travel search site.

The Skyscanner data on search popularity indicates that Japan is the number one overseas travel destination searched for by Thais, followed by Taiwan.

Thai travelers believe that Taiwan has a wider range of tourist resources than Hong Kong, Skyscanner said, noting that Thai nationals are interested in visiting Taiwan as long as the visa waiver program remains in place and available flights are convenient.

Skyscanner also said that Thai travelers who have visited Taiwan regard the island as a good destination for shopping and list spicy fondu and sweet deserts as their favorite foods. However, they also said that local tourist spots need more signs in English, the travel search operator added.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/01/30
By: Bien Chin-feng and Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, Jan. 30 (CNA) Passengers served by the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport reached 42.3 million in 2016, putting Taiwan’s main gateway onto a list of airports serving over 40 million passengers, according to Taoyuan International Airport Co. statistics.

Passengers served by the airport reached 32.21 million in 2013, the first year in which it served over 30 million. Passengers served by the airport increased for five consecutive years from 2012 to 2016, with the rates of increase in the five years between 7.45 percent and 11.15 percent, according to the company’s statistics.

On average, the airport served more than 115,000 passengers per day in 2016.

Taoyuan Airport has attracted six budget carriers in 2016 — AirAsia Philippines, Eastar Jet of South Korea, JetStar Pacific Airlines of Vietnam, Jin Air of South Korea, Malindo Air of Malaysia/Indonesia and T’way Air of South Korea — which shows that airlines in Southeast and Northeast Asian countries are interested in the Taiwan market.    [FULL  STORY]