The 2020 EU Investment Forum (EIF) kicked off at the Taipei International Conference Centre (TICC) today (22 September). President Tsai Ing-Wen, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-Hua, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu attended the opening ceremony to show support to the Forum. In addition, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) President Edwin Liu and representatives from Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (TEEMA), Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders’ Association (TMBA), Taipei Computer Association (TCA), and Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association (TAIROA) were also present. The Forum attracted over 1,400 participants from across the sectors in Taiwan.
The EU and Taiwan have unique possibilities to work together in this changing world and embrace new opportunities brought by the COVID-19 and the trade war, said Filip Grzegorzewski, Head of the European Economic and Trade Office (EETO), in his opening remarks. “Taiwan and the EU both share an open and transparent international trading system. We both value free trade, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. We both aspire to create a sustainable, green and digital society. And we put people at the centre of our policies for economic development,” said Grzegorzewski.
The European Union offers unique opportunities for Taiwanese companies. It is a Single Market of 450 million population, in which people, goods, services and capital move freely. Europe has highly innovative and high-class industries, a rich and vibrant culture, and most importantly, it is closely connected to the world. The Head of the EETO invites Taiwanese companies to go Europe and invest in the EU.
Iuliu Winkler, Vice-Chair of the Committee on International Trade, also delivered a keynote speech titled “Why Invest in the EU?” via a video recording. Winkler said, “the EU is not only the world’s largest and wealthiest market, it has high purchasing power, highly skilled and productive labour force, advanced innovation, and an excellent research and development infrastructure. The EU will remain a major geo-economic player on the global trade and investment front, retaining all the major characteristics that make a global investment destination.”
The Forum offered Taiwanese businesses a thorough understanding of the EU’s investment environment. In the morning session, representative from the European Investment Fund, lawyer expertised in investment in Brussels, and partner of PwC Global Structure Service held an in-depth discussion on the regulation and taxation of investing in the EU. Delta Electronics Chairman Yancey Hai also shared in the keynote speech his 20-plus years of experience investing in Europe.
In the afternoon, the Forum split into three sub-panels focusing on ICT, automotive, and health and bio-technology respectively. Over 20 speakers from Europe and Taiwan illustrated the different investment environment and conditions in different EU Member States. The panels were attended by over 900 Taiwanese business representatives and the public.
Hosting in parallel was the EU Investment Fair consisting 20 booths from the 15 EU Member States in Taiwan, TAITRA, and the Ministry of Economic Affairs Invest in Taiwan Bureau. The Fair provides first-hand information to facilitate bilateral business collaboration.
