The “Taiwan-EU Supply Chains Forum” organized by the Taipei Representative office in the European Union and Belgium, the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA),Taiwan and the Belgian-based think tank European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) was held online this year.
President Tsai addressed by video that Taiwan and the EU are key trading partners. She said the partnership is built on shared belief in democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. Emerging global challenges have highlighted the need for supply chain resilience. The EU has put green energy and the digital economy at the center of its economic recovery plans. Taiwan has named renewable energy, next-generation electronics and biotechnology among our Core Strategic Industries. And Taiwan has nurtured dynamic industrial clusters for domestic and foreign firms to collaborate and innovate more effectively. In her speech, the President specifically called for strengthening “Taiwan-EU connectivity.” This connectivity spurs investment and creates jobs, laying a firm foundation for future growth and paves the way for more resilient, diversified, and reliable supply chains.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Wu stated that Taiwan-EU trade and investment relations have never been stronger. So far this year, Taiwanese investments in the EU’s semiconductor industry have already exceeded 4.35 billion euros. COVID-19 has made the EU attach great importance to the concept of supply chain security. Taiwan stands ready to collaborate with the EU in the fields of semiconductors, 5G networks, and biotechnology. After last September’s EU Investment Forum, today’s forum helps Taiwanese companies learn more about the EU’s investment environment and the advantages they possess in the EU. The Taiwan government will continue to maintain close contact with our friends in Europe to help connect our business sectors.
Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua pointed out that Taiwan and the EU have built a complementary partnership. While the EU is superior in innovations, Taiwan possesses a sound IPR ecosystem and complete clusters. The quick response to expand the production of facial masks at the start of the pandemic as well as automotive chips during the recent chip shortage indicate Taiwan’s important role in world supply chains and reliability. She said that “masks and chips are small in size, but they are indispensable. Likewise, Taiwan is geographically small, but it has proven its strength in helping the world.”
The forum was moderated by MEP Andrey KOVATCHEV, Vice Chair of the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group. Speakers included Terry TSAO, Global Chief Marketing Officer and President, SEMI Taiwan; Johnsee LEE, Chairman, Taiwan Precision Medicine Industry Association (PMMD); Dalip SHARMA, President, EMEA Region, Delta Electronics; Chin-Yu LIN (Miro LIN), General Manager, Intelligent Manufacturing & Data Services Division, Fair Friend Group (FFG); Jeffrey CHIN KC, General Manager, Giant Europe Manufacturing Center; Peter LEMMENS, Director, IMEC Innovation Services and General Manager IMEC Taiwan and Carl HEIREMANS, Senior Business Development Manager, Jan De Nul. In addition to sharing the investment experience of different industries in Europe and Taiwan, they also had in-depth discussions on the prospects for cooperation between Taiwan and the EU in the industrial upgrading such as semiconductors, energy-saving facilities, biotechnology, precision machinery and wind power generation.
