AmCham Taipei released the 2019 Taiwan Business Climate Survey results at a press conference at the AmCham Taipei Lincoln Room on January 23. ➤ Download the complete survey: http://bit.ly/2GSS6SY

1. 2019 TAIWAN
BUSINESS CLIMATE SURVEY
Leo Seewald
Chairman
American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei
January 23, 2019
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2. 500+
member companies
2
tens of thousands of jobs
$ billions of investments

3. How confident are you about Taiwan’s economic growth
over the next 12 months?
2019
46%
either somewhat or very
confident
2018
56%
either somewhat or very
confident
10 percentage point drop from
previous year

4. The impact of geopolitical factors on this year’s
business climate in Taiwan.
4
Current U.S.-China trade
dispute
U.S. “American First” trade
policy
Pressure from China over
Taiwan
81% large to
some extent
73% large to
some extent
79% large to
some extent

5. The impact of information security concerns on this year’s
business climate.
5
Cyber security threats
Intellectual property rights
infringements
77% large to
some extent
68% large to
some extent

6. How confident are you about Taiwan’s economic growth
over the next 3 years?
2019
54%
either somewhat or very
confident
2018
50%
either somewhat or very
confident
slightly higher than previous year

7. How confident are you about your
company’s prospects for revenue growth?
Over next
12 months
80%
either somewhat or very
confident
Over next
3 years
80%
either somewhat or very
confident
Taiwan continues to be a
positive environment for multinationals

8. Opportunities to grow
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9. Main business growth opportunity for your company in
Taiwan over the next 12 months
9
Products or service innovation
43%
Existing market expansion
36%

10. Product/service
innovation
More than a third of companies plan to increase
the number of fulltime equivalent employees this year
10
nearly
35%
Plan to increase
54%
Largely unchanged

11. Product/service
innovation
Overall, companies are still satisfied with their ability to
recruit enough – and sufficiently capable – personnel
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2019
59%
Expressed satisfaction
2018
62%
Expressed satisfaction

12. Product/service
innovation
Survey-takers continue to show enthusiasm
about the quality of Taiwan’s human capital
• Execution of assigned tasks
• Trustworthiness
• Openness to training
• Industriousness
• Business ethics
Top 5
• Creativity/ability to innovate
• Ability/willingness to take initiative
• Communication skills
• English ability
• International mindset
Bottom 5
Out of 18 characteristics
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13. Key Areas of Concern
Regulatory Framework, Energy, Labor Policies
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14. Regulatory framework: further reforms are needed to
meet the needs of a knowledge-based economy.
法規制定：需要進一步改革以滿足知識型經濟的需求。
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15. Product/service
innovation
Are you satisfied with top policymakers’ attention to the
needs of businesses in setting relevant policies?
15
nearly
37%
Somewhat satisfied
nearly
50%
Not satisfied

16. Product/service
innovation
To what extent do you consider government policies will
benefit Taiwan’s economic development?
16
5+2 Innovative
Industries Plan
nearly
64%Large or some extent
nearly
60%Large or some extent
Forward-looking
Infrastructure
Development Plan
nearly
45%Large or some extent
New Southbound
Policy
Many companies see value in the
government’s signature programs

17. Product/service
innovation
Modest improvement in satisfaction of
Taiwan’s regulatory environment
2019 2018
New regulations meet economic needs
41%
say no
53%
say no
Rulemaking follows international best practices
44 %
say no
54%
say no
The government gives public comments serious attention
and response
41%
say no
51%
say no
Laws and regulations are interpreted consistently
46%
say no
52%
say no

18. Quarterly meetings with National Development Council to
achieve progress on White Paper issues have been productive.
18
over
70%
Very or somewhat
effective

19. Energy: sufficiency of future power supply.
能源政策：在未來保證有足夠的電力供應
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20. 20
Companies need
greater assurance
of the adequacy
of future power
supplies.
73%
Extremely or
somewhat concerned
Voltage stability
87%Extremely or somewhat
concerned
70%
Extremely or
somewhat concerned
Electricity Cost
Energy

21. 21
63%
say will impact their
decision to expand.
The goal of
making Taiwan
nuclear free by
2025 will impact
their company’s
decisions to
expand.

22. Labor policies: more flexibility needed
勞動政策：需要更有彈性勞動法規
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23. 23
About half of respondents
disagreed that current
regulations provide sufficient
flexibility to meet their
company’s needs.
45%
disagreed
More than half of
respondents said labor issues
are likely to be a key factor in
their companies’ decision on
future business expansion.
55%
agreed

24. Why Taiwan?
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25. Why Taiwan is seen as an excellent place to live and work
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1
2
3
4
5
Personal safety
Social stability
Healthcare system
Mass transportation
Friendliness toward foreigners
Top 5 Reasons:

26. Why Taiwan is seen as an excellent place to live and work
26
1
2
3
4
5
Areas in need of further improvement:
Air quality
Education system
Diversity & inclusiveness
Environmental sanitation
Infrastructure

27. Methodology
 We thank the staff at PwC for their support and
professionalism in conducting the 2019 Business
Climate Survey.
 The survey was conducted from November 12 to
December 21, 2018.
 Based on input from 179 voting members of the
Chamber – mainly country heads – for a gratifying
response rate of 45.7%.
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28. THANK YOU
Download Full Report
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