Experts called for an expansion of mutual trade and investment between Taiwan and the European Union at the EU–Taiwan Academic Forum on Investment held in Taipei City Jan. 16.
Keynote speakers at the forum, organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the European Economic and Trade Office in Taipei, were Frederic Laplanche, head of the office, and Chiu Yi-cheh, director-general of the MOEA Department of Investment Services.
Laplanche said the EU is the world’s biggest economic bloc with 500 million consumers, and for Taiwan investors this is an ideal time to invest.
Chiu called on the EU to open discussion on the signing of an economic cooperation agreement with Taiwan as quickly as possible, emphasizing that such a pact would encourage Taiwanese investment in the EU and strengthen the competitiveness of EU firms in the Asia-Pacific region, producing a win-win situation for both sides.
At present, a relatively low percentage of EU investment in Greater China is directed toward Taiwan, which means that European investors have not yet fully taken advantage of the opportunity brought about by the economic integration of Taiwan and mainland China, said Tierry Apoteker, head of TAC, a French-based economic and financial research consultancy.
The EU ranks ninth among Taiwan’s foreign direct investment destinations, compared to the U.S. in third place, said Yang Chia-yen, head of the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research’s Research Division VI.
Over 60 government officials and investors from the EU and Taiwan attended the forum. (SDH)