The 2011 Taiwan International Cultural and Creative Industry Expo kicked off Sept. 8 at the Taipei World Trade Center’s Nangang Exhibition Hall. This year’s exhibition is larger in scale than last year’s event, with 457 design companies and individual designers displaying their creations at a total of 868 booths under the main theme of “Connection,” according to the Council for Cultural Affairs. Top officials attending the opening ceremony for the four-day expo included Vice President Vincent C. Siew, Premier Wu Den-yih and CCA Minister Emile Chih-jen Sheng.
The Executive Yuan passed a draft amendment to the Income Tax Act Sept. 8 that would allow low- and middle-income families to claim a NT$25,000 (US$863) tax deduction for each child aged 2 to 5 years old, according to Deputy Finance Minister Chang Sheng-ford. If passed by the Legislative Yuan, the new measure could take effect for the 2012 tax year. The revision would apply only to households in the 5-percent to 12-percent tax bracket, and children already receiving a twice-a-year tuition fee exemption would not be included.
Taiwan’s largest steelmaker, China Steel Corp., held a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 8 for a cold-rolled steel mill in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province of southern Vietnam being constructed under a joint venture with its Japanese partner Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. The joint venture, China Steel Sumikin Vietnam Joint Stock Co., represents CSC’s largest overseas investment ever, with total investment of US$1.15 billion, according to a company press release. Construction of the factory is expected to be completed next year, and trial operations are slated to commence in 2013. The plant will supply steel products used in vehicles and household appliances to manufacturers in Southeast Asia. (SB)