News

2021 Asia Art Biennial ‘Phantasmapolis’ scheduled to open on Oct. 30

2021-04-21   Ministry of Culture

Inspired by renowned Taiwanese architect Wang Da-hong (王大閎), the 2021 Asia Art Biennial will adopt the theme “Phantasmapolis (未來之城),” hoping to explore Asian futurism and observe the post-Second World War cultural development in the regions of Asia.

HAYAKAWA Metal to Break into Asian and New-Southbound Markets with its Taiwanese -Japanese DNA Fusion

2021-04-21   Bureau of Foreign Trade

Specialty steel is usually regarded as an important indicator to identify a country that is capable of a “steel country”, and it is the major material widely applied in most of the national-economy industries such as machinery, automobiles, military industry, chemicals, household appliances, ships, transportation, railways, and other emerging industries. According to the global market research report, the compound annual growth rate of specialty steel is 2.6%, and the market size will reach 237.94 billion USD in 2025.

President Tsai accepts Belize ambassador’s credentials, pledges to boost bilateral ties

President Tsai Ing-wen said April 20 that Taiwan is working closely with Belize in expanding exchanges across an array of areas while exploring new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

Taiwan remains 43rd in latest World Press Freedom Index

2021-04-21   Taiwan Today

Taiwan ranked 43rd in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index released April 17 by France-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), underscoring the country’s ongoing efforts to promote media independence while ensuring a safe environment for members of the press.

Taiwan remains 43rd in latest World Press Freedom Index

2021-04-21   Taiwan Today

Taiwan ranked 43rd in the 2021 World Press Freedom Index released April 17 by France-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), underscoring the country's ongoing efforts to promote media independence while ensuring a safe environment for members of the press.

President Tsai calls King Mswati III of Eswatini to convey best wishes on his birthday

2021-04-20   Office of the President

On April 19, President Tsai Ing-wen spoke with the Kingdom of Eswatini’s King Mswati III by telephone to wish him well on the occasion of his 53rd birthday. The president told His Majesty that she was pleased to see that under his leadership, Eswatini has shown significant progress in all areas of national governance, and that Taiwan will work hand-in-hand with Eswatini to promote national development, continue to deepen our bilateral friendship, and improve the wellbeing of people in both countries.

TIPO to Mark 2021 World Intellectual Property Day With IPR Symposium for SMEs

2021-04-20   Ministy of Economic Affairs

April 26 is World Intellectual Property Day. Since 2001, countries all over the world have been marking this day by organizing special events around a general theme set by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The events are aimed at raising awareness of how IPR can drive innovation and support creativity. WIPO’s theme for 2021 is “IP & SMEs: Taking your ideas to market.”

Taipei backs Hai Long supply chain plan

2021-04-20   Bureau of Foreign Trade

The Hai Long offshore wind project, off Taiwan, has received approval for its “Industrial Relevance Plan” following two years of negotiations.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA)’s Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) passed the plan, with notification given to the developer by the Bureau of Energy (BOE).

2021 Taiwan-Honduras Online Business Opportunity Symposium Attracts Honduran Participants

2021-04-19   Ministy of Economic Affairs

Minister Wang Mei-Hua of the Ministry of Economic Affairs was invited to attend the “2021 Taiwan-Honduras Online Business Opportunity Symposium” held by the Central America Trade Office and the Embassy of the Republic of Honduras on April 14 and deliver opening remarks along with Honduras Vice President and Secretary of Economic Development María Antonia Rivera.

Outdoor event of the Islamic Cultural Exhibition to offer visitors a unique experience of Islamic cultural activities

2021-04-19   Ministry of Foreign Affairs

As part of the Islamic Cultural Exhibition, an outdoor event will be held on April 17 and 18 in the plaza outside the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Open from noon to 7 p.m., the event will offer visitors a unique experience of Islamic cultural activities, including fast-breaking rites and iftar meals served after sunset during Ramadan in accordance with Islamic teachings. Visitors can enjoy Taiwanese and foreign food and view exhibits of Arabic calligraphy and traditional Muslim dress.

Taiwan solidifying leading advantages in global semiconductor market

2021-04-19   Executive Yuan

At the Cabinet’s weekly meeting Thursday, Premier Su Tseng-chang said the government will maintain and expand Taiwan’s semiconductor supply chain advantages by easing regulations, cultivating industrial talent and attracting more investments. Science parks will also be established or expanded in cities and counties across Taiwan to boost the industrial clustering effect.

Cabinet approves draft amendments to foreign professional recruitment law

2021-04-16   Executive Yuan

To attract more top-flight international talent to Taiwan, the Executive Yuan on Thursday approved the National Development Council’s draft amendments to the Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals. The draft amendments will be forwarded to the Legislature for deliberation.

President Tsai meets senior US delegation sent by President Biden

2021-04-16   Office of the President

On the morning of April 15, President Tsai Ing-wen met a senior delegation sent by US President Joe Biden at the Presidential Office. President Tsai noted that the delegation’s visit highlights the growing partnership between Taiwan and the United States, and demonstrates US bipartisan support for Taiwan. The president expressed optimism that continued cooperation between Taiwan and the United States will strengthen our bilateral partnership and yield even more fruitful results.

Supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, ITRI on Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovator List for Fifth Time

2021-04-16   Ministy of Economic Affairs

Supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the largest applied research institution in Taiwan, has been named a Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovator for the fourth consecutive year and the fifth time overall since 2015, making it the most awarded research institution ever in Asia.

Hawaii conditionally lifts quarantine for visitors from Taiwan

2021-04-15   Focus Taiwan

People arriving in the American state of Hawaii from Taiwan will no longer be required to quarantine for 10 days, once they present proof of a negative COVID-19 test issued by designated hospitals, Taiwan's representative office there said Wednesday.

MOFA welcomes US delegation’s Taiwan visit

2021-04-15   Taiwan Today

The visit of former Sen. Christopher Dodd, ex-Deputy Secretaries of State Richard Armitage and James Steinberg, and the accompanying U.S. delegation is warmly welcomed by the government and people, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs April 14.

The First Ever 5G-themed Stage Show-Kaleidoscope collaborated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Ministry of Culture (MOC)

2021-04-15   Ministy of Economic Affairs

During IEEE GLOBECOM 2020, the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) collaborated with the Ministry of Culture (MOC) and the National Theater & Concert Hall, launching the first ever 5G-themed stage show called Kaleidoscope on Dec. 11, 2020, with the introduction of VR and other 5G applications.

A novel next-generation probiotic: new opportunity for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

2021-04-14   Ministry of Science and Technology

The roles of gut microbiota in host health development are being rapidly recognized, which leads to great potentials for applications in precision and translational medicine. Under financial supports from Ministry of Science and Technology, Dr. Hsin-Chih Lai and Dr. Tzu-Lung Lin from Chang-Gung University in collaboration with Dr. Chia-Chen Lu from Fu-Jen Catholic University have identified a commensal bacterial strain, Parabacteroides goldsteinii MTS01, and its derived anti-inflammatory lipopolysaccharides (Pg-LPS) can ameliorate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The results were published in Gut in March 2021.

Creative Expo Taiwan 2021 opening in Taipei

2021-04-14   Ministry of Culture

Creative Expo Taiwan 2021 (CET 2021) will be held at three venues in Taipei, Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, and Taipei Expo Park-Expo Dom, from April 16 through April 25. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the largest cultural and creative trade and exhibition platform in Taiwan presents three exhibition sections curated based on the practice of business and strategy oneness, technology accessibility, cultural economy and future vision.

Taiwan inks disaster management and medical capacity building cooperation pact with St. Vincent and the Grenadines

2021-04-14   Taiwan Today

A memorandum of understanding on disaster management and medical capacity building in St. Vincent and the Grenadines was inked by Taiwan and the Caribbean ally April 13, spotlighting how Taiwan Can Help realize the World Health Organization’s goal of Health for All and the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

COMPUTEX 2021 to be online-only due to COVID-19 pandemic

2021-04-13   Bureau of Foreign Trade

COMPUTEX Taipei is one of the largest PC conventions, where a lot of major and minor PC related companies showcase their new products and technological advancements. COMPUTEX Taipei also known as The Taipei International Information Technology Show takes place every year in Taiwan. However, just like most other tech shows, it has also been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cultural exhibition deepens friendship, understanding between Taiwan, Muslim-majority countries

2021-04-13   Taiwan Today

The Islamic Cultural Exhibition featuring Arabic calligraphy works, religious artifacts and items, and photographs of celebrated mosques from around Taiwan and abroad is underway at National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei City.

TaiwanICDF Promotes Biofuel Pellets in Honduras to Enhance Forest Health and Revitalize Rural Communities

2021-04-13   International Cooperation and Development Fund

The International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) has implemented the Innovation Project of Utilizing Biofuel Techniques to Convert Discarded Wood and Leaves into Household Energy (hereafter the biofuel pellet project) in Honduras to expand the effectiveness of the Honduras Forest Pest Management Project. The Taiwan Technical Mission in Honduras will guide four local communities through the overall process of promoting biofuel pellets, from collecting discarded pine needles, chipping, and pelletizing to distributing pellets to households or factories. By using the biofuel pellet project to establish a model of reusing forest resources, the TaiwanICDF hopes to help Honduras not only convert forest waste into clean energy but also increase community residents’ income.

Highly Successful Taiwantrade Showcases Forecast Steady Rise in Medical Equipment and Home Goods Sales in 2021

2021-04-12   Bureau of Foreign Trade

Taiwanese manufacturers are still growing rapidly, the latest export statistics suggest, despite COVID-19 setbacks. Taiwan has performed exceptionally well during the pandemic because of the booming overseas demand for Taiwan-made goods. In January, export orders totaled to $52.72 billion, a record since February 2010.

President Tsai marks 80 years of ROC (Taiwan)-Honduras diplomatic ties

2021-04-12   Office of the President

On April 9, President Tsai Ing-wen recorded a video to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Republic of Honduras. Noting that Taiwan and Honduras are important trading partners as well as loyal allies, President Tsai said she hoped to further deepen our bilateral partnership, work together to contribute to the international community, and collaborate to improve the wellbeing of citizens in both our countries.

President Tsai offers condolences on passing of Prince Philip

2021-04-12   Office of the President

In response to the passing of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Presidential Office Spokesperson Xavier Chang (張惇涵) on April 9 stated that President Tsai Ing-wen offered her deepest condolences to the government of the United Kingdom and the people of the Commonwealth on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, and expressed Taiwan’s sincere sympathy to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. President Tsai further instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Taiwan’s representative office in the UK to convey to the UK government our grief and sympathy over the passing of Prince Philip.

Korean automotive cybersecurity firm joins Hon Hai’s platform

2021-04-09   Bureau of Foreign Trade

Autocrypt Co., a South Korea-based automotive cybersecurity solution provider, has jointed an open electric car platform pushed by Taiwan-based manufacturing giant Hon Hai Precision Industry Co.

Taiwan, Philippines launch agricultural internship program

2021-04-09   Focus Taiwan

An agricultural internship program between Taiwan and the Philippines formally kicked off Thursday, with 50 Filipino farmers expected to be sent to Taiwan for one year after completing a basic Mandarin language course.

The Education Division of TECO-NY co-sponsors “Why Learn Chinese?” Seminar at Scranton University

2021-04-09   Ministry of Education

The Education Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York (TECO-NY), joined the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Scranton University, and the Asian Studies Center at the university to present an online seminar “Why learn Chinese?” on January 28, 2021. The seminar promoted the university’s Chinese language programs, and opportunities that the students have to further their studies in Taiwan.

Austrian/Taiwanese Online Seminar on “New Approaches for Sustainability & Climate Change Research”

2021-04-08   Ministry of Education

Climate change and anthropogenic activities pose great challenges to natural systems and to humanity itself. These challenges are also being responded to with international collaboration in research and science, including between experts in Austria and Taiwan.

Taiwan and US hold videoconference on Taiwan’s international participation; MOFA expresses sincere gratitude for staunch US support

2021-04-08   Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Taiwan and the United States held a videoconference on March 30, 2021, to discuss Taiwan’s international participation. Both sides shared strategies and methods for strengthening and expanding Taiwan’s participation in international organizations addressing global public health, transnational crime, civil aviation, and climate change, as well as others promoting shared values and interests. This meeting marked the first in-depth talks on bilateral cooperation to enhance Taiwan’s participation in international organizations since the Biden administration assumed office. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) thanks the United States for its unwavering support and commitment to Taiwan’s international participation.

The BOFT and TAITRA Jointly Organize the Taiwan Biomedical Symposium

2021-04-08   Bureau of Foreign Trade

The Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) jointly held the Taiwan Biomedical Symposium on March 26. Experts and scholars from the Academia Sinica Center and Chang Gung Medical Foundation were invited to explore how opportunities in the domestic biomedical industry can be developed. Nearly 200 participants attended online and offline.

IMF raises Taiwan’s GDP growth forecast for 2021 to 4.7%

2021-04-07   Focus Taiwan

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its forecast for Taiwan’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth for 2021 to 4.7 percent, up 1.5 percentage points from its most recent estimate late last year.

MOFA Minister Wu accepts copy of credentials from Belize ambassador

2021-04-07   Taiwan Today

Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu accepted a copy of the credentials of Candice Pitts, new ambassador of Belize to the ROC (Taiwan), while exchanging views on a range of issues pertinent to bilateral relations, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs April 6.

Taiwan machinery looking optimistic in post-COVID era

2021-04-07   Bureau of Foreign Trade

Industry-acclaimed expo TIMTOS 2021’s online version gained over 120,000 visits during the six-day exhibition period since March 15, show organizer Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) reported.

Ministry of Education Allows More Categories of Overseas Students to Apply to Enter the Republic of China (Taiwan) from April 1, 2021

2021-04-06   Ministry of Education

Degree students have once again been allowed to enter the Republic of China (Taiwan) again since December 8, 2020. In accordance with directions from the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), the Ministry of Education has announced that students in an additional four categories are allowed to apply to enter from April 1, 2021. These categories are: Huayu Enrichment Scholarship recipients, Taiwan Huayu BEST Scholarship recipients, students sponsored under a bilateral educational cooperation agreement, and students with special entry permits. This will affect approximately 1,400 students.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications expresses gratitude to the caring and condolences from our friends overseas

2021-04-06   Ministry of Transportation and Communications

A train crash involving the 408 Taroko Express train happened on April 2 this year, claiming 50 lives and leading to the worst rail accident in Taiwan in five decades. In response to such tragic events, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has been actively engaged in rescue operations, offering support to the families of the victims and injured passengers, while cooperating with the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board in an investigation to determine its cause.

Transforming Kaohsiung into Pivotal Offshore Wind Power Talent Incubation Hub: Completion and Opening Ceremony of the Maritime Technology Innovation Center

2021-04-06   Ministy of Economic Affairs

Taiwan government has launched the 2025 energy transition policy. The targets of this policy include developing 5.7 GW installed capacity of offshore wind power by 2025 and achieving the localization of offshore wind energy industry. Furthermore, the government has also launched an offshore wind power talent incubation program to incubate highly skilled local talents and create local green-collar jobs. Today (January 11) marks the completion and inauguration of the Maritime Technology Innovation Center (MTIC), which will shape Kaohsiung City into a pivotal talent incubation hub of offshore wind power. It will also invest in the innovation of maritime technology industry in the mid to long term.