Long before Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy was instituted,Taiwanese companies, sensing market opportunities, began to invest in Thailand, which became an important base of operations. After several decades of investment, Taiwanese industry is highly developed in the country. Amid changing times and intensifying global market competition, Taiwanese businesses are steadily improving efficiency and stream­lining operations to succeed in an era of strong headwinds. Through the combined efforts of in (Read More)

The ocean around Orchid Island is as clear as glass, as mysterious as a rock hidden in the depths. The air carries the primitive taste of salt, and the island’s aloof personality attracts countless people of a maritime bent to come and visit. (Read More)

“At midday, sweat drips o’er the soil.” So goes a traditional description of farming. But in today’s countryside, drones spread fertilizer and pesticides on humans’ behalf. Machines are “more precise than people,” and they help to conserve resources. Take, for instance, the drip irrigation system at the ­Neipu Tea Plantation in Ping­tung, which automatically turns on at night, saving electricity and water. Or consider the vertical farming performed at the Yes­Health ­iFarm in Tao­yuan. Un­aff (Read More)

The textile industry and fish farming would seem to be very remote from each other. But in Tai­nan, a bastion of both aquaculture and textiles, there is a third generation of textile industry entrepreneurs who are boldly innovating to connect the two. They have taken the milkfish scales that are a ubiquitous byproduct of aquaculture, and used biotechnology to extract “collagen peptide.” This material is turned into “bionic” fibers, which are then transformed into fashionable clothing. This sterl (Read More)

Taiwan’s government has decreed that no new fossil­-fuel motorcycles or scooters will be sold here after 2035. With that deadline set, alternatives have begun to appear. China Motor Corporation gained first-mover advantage when its “e-moving” business group entered the market some years ago, and ­Kymco’s 55 years of motor­cycle manufacturing experience cannot be discounted. But over the last three years a startup named Go­goro has leapt to the forefront of Taiwan’s e-scooter market. The company' (Read More)

How are artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, big data, cloud-based computing and other technological developments linking our lives and improving city administration? “Smart city” proposals are driving experimentation and interest in using these new technologies to address the developmental needs and changing living environments of major cities around the world. Such proposals exploit the power of government, the creativity of citizens, and the capabilities of industry to explore (Read More)

A steel cable can bring the world together. Cables that have carried visitors from all over the globe to the top of Tai­pei 101 have been shaped by the hands of artist Kang Mu­xiang into forms that embody the supple strength of Taiwan’s spirit. Moreover, through the process of cleaning the cables, prison inmates have experienced hope for a new life. (Read More)

In February 2017, Thai prime minister Pra­yuth Chan-ocha announced the “Thailand 4.0” economic reform program, which focuses on boosting five established industries, developing five new ones, building transportation infrastructure, and creating the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). An influential member of ASEAN, Thailand is also planning a variety of tax incentives to attract foreign investment as part of this all-out effort to transform and upgrade its economy. (Read More)

Taiwan has gained an international reputation for its public health assistance and medical missions in Latin America, Africa and the South Pacific. Whether combating kidney disease in Belize or working to lower maternal and infant mortality rates in the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Taiwan’s medical assistance initiatives have expanded beyond providing free clinics and building hospitals. (Read More)

Each craft product possesses a unique life, and the passion of its creator is transmitted through the warmth of the maker’s hands.
Through the hands of youthful local entrepreneurs—leatherworking studio Drifter, and silversmiths Grass Hill Jewelry—lost arts and old memories are being re­kindled. The trend for bygone handicrafts is flourishing both in Taiwan and abroad. (Read More)