A cross-strait association of chain stores on Thursday set up shop in Taipei with the participation of more than 300 Taiwanese chain stores and franchise operators based in Taiwan and China.
Sixty local operators formally inaugurated the association at a ceremony in Taipei City that the other China-based companies watched through the use of a video link in Shanghai.
Association convener Wang Kuo-an (王國安) said that by taking advantage of its good relations with major international investors, the association would build a platform to help franchise and chain store operators in Taiwan and China list on stock exchanges and over-the-counter markets.
The association will also promote cooperation between chain store and franchise operators in Taiwan and China, hold franchise trade shows and seminars, push for the formation of strategic alliances and provide other services.
Wang said many chains have attracted the attention of prominent investment fund managers because of their development potential in Taiwan and their ability to tap into the Chinese market, with some already having foreign shareholders.
Chains such as Yicha Yizuo Tea House (一茶一座), Bobodog (巴布豆), Real Brewed Tea House (仙蹤林), bathroom fixtures maker Hocheng Corp (和成), karaoke parlor operator Golden Jaguar Group (金錢�?Dio Coffee (迪歐咖啡), C. Straits Coffee (兩岸咖啡) and Tony Wear have sold stakes to foreign equity firms Carlyle and Goldman Sachs, Wang said.
Franchises such as family entertainment operator Tom’s World Amusement Corp (湯姆熊), 85°C Coffee, Ay-Chung Flour Rice Noodle (阿宗麵線) and SUSHI Group (爭鮮) are also expected to draw funds from foreign investors in the future, Wang said.
Others being eyed by foreign investors include houseware retailer Working House (生活工廠), Merry Spa (喜悅髮型) and Giraffe English School (長頸鹿).
Separately, the number of Chinese visitors on group tours coming from China to Taiwan increased by 53 percent last month compared to February, a report by the mainland-based semi-official China News Service said.
Judging from recent tallies, the report said, it is apparent that the daily tourist departures from China to Taiwan last month had exceeded an average of 1,000.
The report said the number of Chinese tourists to Taiwan was expected to increase markedly because starting in December, Chinese people from 25 cities and provinces, compared to 13 cities and provinces previously, were allowed to visit Taiwan.
The number of travel agencies authorized to organize tours to Taiwan also rose to 146, from 33 previously.
The newly added 113 travel agencies began arranging tours to Taiwan starting late last month, it said.
purpose: Tesla’s CEO sought to meet senior Chinese officials to discuss the rollout of its ‘full self-driving’ software in China and approval to transfer data they had collected Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk arrived in Beijing yesterday on an unannounced visit, where he is expected to meet senior officials to discuss the rollout of "full self-driving" (FSD) software and permission to transfer data overseas, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Chinese state media reported that he met Premier Li Qiang (李強) in Beijing, during which Li told Musk that Tesla's development in China could be regarded as a successful example of US-China economic and trade cooperation. Musk confirmed his meeting with the premier yesterday with a post on social media platform X. "Honored to meet with Premier Li
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: The chipmaker last month raised its capital spending by 28 percent for this year to NT$32 billion from a previous estimate of NT$25 billion Contract chipmaker Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (力積電子) yesterday launched a new 12-inch fab, tapping into advanced chip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS) packaging technology to support rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI) devices. Powerchip is to offer interposers, one of three parts in CoWoS packaging technology, with shipments scheduled for the second half of this year, Powerchip chairman Frank Huang (黃崇仁) told reporters on the sidelines of a fab inauguration ceremony in the Tongluo Science Park (銅鑼科學園區) in Miaoli County yesterday. “We are working with customers to supply CoWoS-related business, utilizing part of this new fab’s capacity,” Huang said, adding that Powerchip intended to bridge
Dutch brewing company Heineken NV on Friday announced an investment of NT$13.5 billion (US$414.62 million) over the next five years in Taiwan. The first multinational brewing company to operate in Taiwan, Heineken made the statement at a ceremony held at its brewery in Pingtung County. It also outlined its efforts to make the brewery “net zero” by 2030. Heineken has been in the Taiwanese market for 20 years, Heineken Taiwan managing director Jeff Wu (吳建甫) said. With strong support from local consumers, the Dutch brewery decided to transition from sales to manufacturing in the country, Wu said. Heineken assumed majority ownership and management rights
Microsoft Corp yesterday said that it would create Thailand’s first data center region to boost cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, promising AI training to more than 100,000 people to develop tech. Bangkok is a key economic player in Southeast Asia, but it has lagged behind Indonesia and Singapore when it comes to the tech industry. Thailand has an “incredible opportunity to build a digital-first, AI-powered future,” Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella said at an event in Bangkok. Data center regions are physical locations that store computing infrastructure, allowing secure and reliable access to cloud platforms. The global embrace of AI