Taiwan ranked third-best among Singapore’s most important foreign investors, and Taiwanese entrepreneurs ranked second-best among foreign businesspeople there, a survey on Singaporean perceptions of the nation showed.
Taiwanese Representative to Singapore Francis Liang (梁國新), Singaporean Trade Representative to Taipei Yip Wei Kiat (葉偉傑) and Taiwan-Asia Exchange Foundation (TAEF) Chairman Michael Hsiao (蕭新煌) were among those who yesterday commented on the survey at a news conference in Taipei.
The survey was conducted as part of a project to study Taiwan and Taiwanese entrepreneurs’ image in countries included in the New Southbound Policy, the TAEF said.
Photo: Liao Chen-hui, Taipei Times
More than 80 percent of Singaporean entrepreneurs agreed that Taiwan has a positive image, the poll showed.
The nation also scored highly on a range of qualities, including friendliness, cultural diversity and technology.
Taiwan had the highest approval rating after Japan and Switzerland among Singapore’s 15 direct foreign investors, while China was the sixth-most well-liked, it said.
More than 81 percent of respondents agreed that Taiwanese entrepreneurs have a good image in Singapore, and the group was considered trustworthy, innovative and law-abiding.
The nation’s businesses did not do as well in other categories, as only 68 percent of respondents agreed that entrepreneurs hailing from Taiwan treat employees well, while 63 percent agreed that the group is internationalized.
Overall, the image of Taiwanese entrepreneurs was second only to Japan, and trailed by the US and Switzerland, with China taking 10th spot in the rankings, it said.
The survey showed 93 percent of Singaporean businesses expressed willingness to do more business with their counterparts in Taiwan, including 80 percent in the tourism sector, 59 percent in semiconductors and 58 percent in smart electronics.
Additionally, 55 percent of businesses in the Web-based international retail sector and 53 percent of businesses in the information technology sector reported a willingness to do business with the nation.
Taiwan’s positive image in Singapore appears to be partially rooted in the nation’s soft power — including politeness, cultural diversity and cuisine — that are difficult to quantify, the TAEF wrote in its report, citing outside experts.
The survey also indicated that Taiwanese businesses are excessively hierarchical and employees lack English-language proficiency, it said.
Taiwan should strengthen its ties with Singapore, especially regarding the training and exchange of highly skilled workers, supply chain resilience and maintenance of regional peace, the TAEF said.
Disruptions to global supply chains stemming from the US-China trade dispute and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have underlined the importance of cooperation in these fields, it added.
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
ALIGNED THINKING: Taiwan and Japan have a mutual interest in trade, culture and engineering, and can work together for stability, Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan and Japan are two like-minded countries willing to work together to form a “safety barrier” in the Indo-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said at the opening ceremony of the 35th Taiwan-Japan Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium in Taipei. Taiwan and Japan are close geographically and closer emotionally, he added. Citing the overflowing of a barrier lake in the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) in September, Cho said the submersible water level sensors given by Japan during the disaster helped Taiwan monitor the lake’s water levels more accurately. Japan also provided a lot of vaccines early in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
RSS