Reuters
Date: February 12, 2020

TAIPEI (Reuters) – Taiwan plans to spend T$60 billion ($2 billion) to help cushion the impact on the export-reliant economy from the new coronavirus, offering loans to small businesses and even vouchers to spend on food at night markets.

Taiwan, whose largest trading partner is China, lowered its 2020 economic growth estimate on Wednesday, as the coronavirus outbreak threatens to hit its economy, which is a key part of the global electronics supply chain.

The island has reported only 18 cases of the virus and no deaths, but has largely suspended travel and tourism links with China to help curb its spread. China has reported more than 1,300 deaths.

Taiwan’s cabinet on Thursday proposed in the special budget T$14.23 billion for the transportation and tourism industries, including subsidies for tour agencies whose businesses have been hit hard, and tax cuts for tour bus drivers.    [FULL  STORY]

Supportive measures to focus on driving domestic demand and buttressing travel industries

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/02/13
By:  Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taiwan government is discussing measures on Thursday (Feb. 13) to prop up the country’s economy and help cushion the impact of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19).

Aid to the five service industries, including dining, retail, MICE, commercial districts, night and traditional markets will be the focus of the meeting. In addition to loans, government support will also be pledged for digital transformation, environment enhancement, and nurturing talent for the affected businesses, said Cabinet Spokeswoman Kolas Yotaka.

While bolstering companies by granting new loans, the government will consider holding major sale events and doling out vouchers to boost consumption. Bailout plans and subsidies will also be implemented to help the travel industry weather the crisis — which is being hit hard by ticket and room cancellations, wrote CNA.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 02/13/2020
By: Wu Po-wei, Liu Pei-chi and Frances Huang

Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) The Breeze group, one of the largest shopping mall operators in Taiwan, confirmed Wednesday that it is planning to reduce its workforce, but declined to say whether the local media reports of a 30 percent cut were accurate.

Breeze, which has 10 shopping malls in Taipei, said the workforce reduction plan is a routine internal adjustment, and it will continue to expand and hire professionals to help its growth.

The company opened its 10th Taipei mall in January 2018 — the Breeze Nan Shan in Taipei's Xinyi District – and is planning another one in the city's Nangang District but has not yet set a date for that opening, it said.

Its layoff plans were first reported in the local media, which said Wednesday that Breeze would reduce its workforce by about 30 percent, which would mean cutting 200-300 employees, because the scare over novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected private consumption and hurt Taiwan's retail industry.    [FULL  STORY]

Arena of Valor is running a Taiwanese collaboration with famed fried chicken chain KFC – but you'll need a bit of luck to get the goods.

Fanbyte
Date: February 6, 2020
By:  Victoria Rose Follo

Are you an Arena of Valor skin collector in Taiwan? Hope you like fried chicken, because you’re going to need to grind up some chicken for a promotional skin. In Taiwan, Arena of Valor and KFC (yes, that KFC) have teamed up for a promotional event, featuring the legendary Colonel Sanders as a skin for the hero Omarr. But it’s a bit of a double-gacha situation.

In order to get a chance at Arena of Valor‘s digital prizes (yes, you read that right), you need to buy a special food box. It’s only $5 and is a pretty hearty meal, so if you’re a KFC fan, it’s not too bad.

However, the first layer of gacha is like any other food sweepstakes. You have a chance of receiving one of three items: the AoV prize, a food or drink giveaway, or an actual physical prize. The physical prizes include T-shirts, pillows, blankets, and more.

And these all sound nifty! But that doesn’t sound like it’s what a lot of gamers are in for. Unless these box-searching KFC gamers are really into physical prizes and free food, in which case, they should go for it by all means. I know I would.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau airlines dealt blow by flight bans caused by coronavirus outbreak

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/02/06
By: Huang Tzu-ti, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — China Airlines has put off plans for new recruits to get on board as it gauges the impact of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak that has taken a toll on air travel.

Around 100 new flight attendants were supposed to report for work in February and March, but they will now need to wait for further notice. This is part of a review into the flagship air carrier’s operations, which are expected to be affected by the continued spread of 2019-nCoV, wrote NOWnews.

The aviation industry is among the hardest hit since the virus broke out late December, with flights between Chinese cities and a growing number of countries suspended. StarLux, EVA Air, and Uni Air have had their share of losses due to the health crisis, with either halted or canceled flights to China.    [FULL  STORY]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 02/06/2020
By: Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Feb. 6 (CNA) The ongoing spread of a deadly new coronavirus originating in the Chinese city of Wuhan offers an opportunity for industrial upgrading in Taiwan, Economics Minister Shen Jong-chin (沈榮津) said Thursday.

The global outbreak of the disease will encourage Taiwanese businesses to review their production and manufacturing capacity in China and consider moving back to Taiwan, Shen said, adding that such a move would promote industry upgrading in the country.

Similar relocation plans could also be embraced by foreign investors, and a reshuffle in the global supply chain will help Taiwan reposition itself as a hub of high-end manufacturing in the Asia Pacific, Shen said at a press conference at which the German Trade Office Taipei presented the results of a business confidence survey.

With that in mind, the government will work to help Taiwanese businesses utilize automation, digitization and smart applications in production, according to Shen.    [FULL  STORY]

Kuang Nan Fashion Shop offering 500,000 free face masks to customers across Taiwan starting Friday

Taiwan News
Date: 2020/02/05
By: Keoni Everington, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Due to a severe shortage of face masks and in the wake of a new rationing system announced by the government, wholesale retailer Kuang Nan Fashion Shop (光南大批發-連鎖店) on Tuesday (Feb. 4) announced that it will be offering 500,000 free face masks at multiple branches across Taiwan by the end of the week.

As the fear of the Wuhan virus gripping Taiwan leads to panic buying, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced on Monday (Feb. 3) that it will implement a new rationing system for face masks that requires Taiwan residents to present their National Health Insurance (NHI) cards when purchasing masks at the over 6,000 drugstores and pharmacies that contract with the NHI, reported Liberty Times. In addition, consumers will be limited to only buying two masks per week (7 days).

In response, Kuang Nan on Tuesday announced on its Facebook page that it will distribute half a million face masks to a number of its stores across Taiwan to help those who have been unable to acquire an adequate amount. The masks will be available at select Kuang Nan stores on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 7 and 8) with customers limited to five masks each.    [FULL  STO-RY8]

Focus Taiwan
Date: 02/05/2020
By: Pan Tzu-yu and Frances Huang

Taipei, Feb. 5 (CNA) Taiwan's manufacturing sector remained in expansion mode in January, but the domestic economy may suffer in the first quarter of the year due to the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China, the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER) said Wednesday.

CIER data showed that the seasonally adjusted Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell 4.9 points in January from a month earlier to 51.3, which was still in the expansion range.

The PMI is based on a monthly poll of executives at some 300 representative manufacturing companies and covers the areas of new orders, inventory levels, production, supplier deliveries, and employment. A score of 50 indicates no change, over 50 signals expansion, and under 50 means decline.

In January, the non-manufacturing index (NMI) for Taiwan's service sector rose by 0.9 points from a month earlier to 55.0, marking the 11th consecutive month of expansion, CIER said.
[FULL  STORY]