Over 200 Taiwanese companies want to return to invest in Taiwan: MOEA survey

November 16, 2006

A preliminary survey indicates that 231 Taiwan companies wish to return to Taiwan to invest, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

The survey, which was conducted by the MOEA Department of Investment Services (DOIS), is the result of an effort to encourage Taiwan companies abroad to return to Taiwan by the "Special Task Force to Bring Taiwan Companies Abroad Back to Taiwan to Invest," an inter-agency group formed by the MOEA.

Most of the companies that wish to return are manufacturing companies involved in machinery electronics, processing, and traditional industries. All surveys are being carried out by the Department of Investment Services (DOIS), which will continue to gather more detailed information.

In addition to conceiving the survey, the task force also held a series of meetings in Oct. to discuss integrating administrative resources, as well as plans for bringing Taiwan companies back to Taiwan and implementing related services. The other agencies that participated in the meetings included the DOIS, the Department of Commerce, the Industrial Development Bureau, the Export Processing Zone Administration, and the Taiwan External Trade Council (TAITRA).

The preliminary survey, carried out via telephone and Internet by the DOIS, showed that of 231 out of 784 respondents indicated that they were interested in returning to Taiwan to invest.

The majority of the companies that want to return are currently operating in Southeast Asia and China, with several in the US, said Burton Chiu, Director-General of the DOIS. 60 of these companies are run by overseas Taiwanese companies, while 170 are based in Taiwan and abroad, said Chiu.

The second phase of the survey, consisting of both on-site and telephone interviews by the DOIS, will seek to gain a deeper understanding of the industry, locations, investment scope, investment models, and needed services of the companies considering a return to Taiwan.

In addition, the government has earmarked NTD 200 billion in loans for returning Taiwanese companies, but no companies have applied as of yet. One reason for this may be that there are too many loan choices, according to Chiu. Thus, the MOEA has already requested that the Industrial Development Bureau review the loan program and implement the necessary revisions.

(Central News Agency)

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