Many of you will be familiar with BTCO's Commercial Section. Some of you may not be so familiar with the branding under which all export and investment-related activity from the UK to Taiwan takes place -- UK Trade and Investment. UK Trade and Investment is a unified body that was created to assist British business access opportunities in overseas markets. Here in Taiwan, there are 14 staff devoted solely to that purpose.
There are a number of ways in which BTCO can help bring together Taiwanese importers and British exporters and investors. We are proactive in a number of sectors and provide assistance on all other sectors. The key sectors which provide opportunities for British companies are agriculture, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, clothing and fashion, communications, creative and media, education and training, electronics and IT, environment, financial services, fire, police and security, food and drink, healthcare and medical, leisure and tourism and finally marine.
BTCO also provides a lot of help for local businesses here in Taiwan, such as Provide assistance with identifying potential business partners in the UK; Supply information on trade shows in the UK; Give ad-hoc assistance in sourcing UK products; Tell you about trade missions that are going to the UK; Tell you about trade missions that are coming to Taiwan; Provide information about working with British companies; Work in collaboration with local bodies to hold seminars on target sectors, etc.
Investing in the UK
UK Trade & Investment's Inward Investment Section's role is to attract, retain and add value to Taiwanese investment into the UK. A team of three staff work (with the UK Development Agencies) to assist potential and existing Taiwanese investors.
The Inward Investment Section offers a free and confidential service covering all aspects of locating in the UK. Practical advice and assistance is offered on location of premises, setting up and registering a company, recruitment, etc. Visit programmes to the UK can also be arranged.
There are already over 180 Taiwanese firms with an active presence in the UK. Twenty of these have their European manufacturing bases in Britain (accounting for 70% of Taiwanese manufacturing investment in Europe). Nine of Taiwan's financial institutions are represented in the UK, including the Central Bank of China, which has its European base in London.
If you would like to find out more do access our website at www.btco.org.tw.
BACK IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: The planned transit by the ‘Baden-Wuerttemberg’ and the ‘Frankfurt am Main’ would be the German Navy’s first passage since 2002 Two German warships are set to pass through the Taiwan Strait in the middle of this month, becoming the first German naval vessels to do so in 22 years, Der Spiegel reported on Saturday. Reuters last month reported that the warships, the frigate Baden-Wuerttemberg and the replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main, were awaiting orders from Berlin to sail the Strait, prompting a rebuke to Germany from Beijing. Der Spiegel cited unspecified sources as saying Beijing would not be formally notified of the German ships’ passage to emphasize that Berlin views the trip as normal. The German Federal Ministry of Defense declined to comment. While
‘REGRETTABLE’: TPP lawmaker Vivian Huang said that ‘we will continue to support Chairman Ko and defend his innocence’ as he was transferred to a detention facility The Taipei District Court yesterday ruled that Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) be detained and held incommunicado over alleged corruption dating to his time as mayor of Taipei. The ruling reversed a decision by the court on Monday morning that Ko be released without bail. After prosecutors on Wednesday appealed the Monday decision, the High Court said that Ko had potentially been “actively involved” in the alleged corruption and ordered the district court to hold a second detention hearing. Ko did not speak to reporters upon his arrival at the district court at about 9:10am yesterday to attend a procedural
The High Court yesterday overturned a Taipei District Court decision to release Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) and sent the case back to the lower court. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office on Saturday questioned Ko amid a probe into alleged corruption involving the Core Pacific City development project during his time as Taipei mayor. Core Pacific City, also known as Living Mall (京華城購物中心), was a shopping mall in Taipei’s Songshan District (松山) that has since been demolished. On Monday, the Taipei District Court granted a second motion by Ko’s attorney to release him without bail, a decision the prosecutors’ office appealed
The Executive Yuan yesterday warned against traveling to or doing business in China after reports that Beijing is recruiting Taiwanese to help conceal the use of forced Uighur labor. The government is aware that Taiwan-based influencers and businesses are being asked to make pro-Beijing content and offered incentives to invest in the region, Executive Yuan acting spokeswoman Julia Hsieh (謝子涵) told a news conference. Taiwanese are urged to be aware of the potential personal and reputational harm by visiting or operating businesses in China, Hsieh said, adding that agencies are fully apprised of the situation. A national security official said that former Mainland