This document summarizes the results of the 2019 Taiwan Business Climate Survey conducted amongst over 200 key business leaders in Taiwan. It finds that profitability levels are at their lowest in 9 years, with forecasts for 2019 revenues, profits, and investment declining or flat compared to previous years. Employment growth is also forecast to slow. Persistent issues identified include governmental bureaucracy, differences between local and international standards, domestic protectionism, and inadequate or outdated laws. The ability to recruit qualified personnel and increasing labor costs are also major impacts. The survey concludes the outlook for business in Taiwan over the next 5 years is sluggish.
Q4 2013 SMB Job Generation Outlook ReportLucas Group
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
Q3 2013 SMB Job Generation Outlook ReportLucas Group
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
Q1 2014 SMB Job Generation Outlook ReportLucas Group
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
Q2 2013 SMB Job Generation Outlook Report Lucas Group
This document summarizes the results of a survey of small and mid-sized business executives regarding employment and economic trends in the second quarter of 2013. Some key findings include:
- Executives were more optimistic about their company's economic prospects and position in 2013 compared to the previous quarter, with 88% reporting their company is maintaining stability or experiencing growth.
- Optimism about job growth prospects for their own company cooled slightly, while views about the national economy remained similar to the previous quarter.
- Most executives agree that small businesses are important job creators for the US economy, though fewer see their own company in this role.
- The majority of executives are preparing for requirements of the Affordable Care
The survey found that mid-market companies are moderating their spending and investments compared to six months ago, despite remaining confident in the economy. Hiring and capital spending growth have slowed, though companies expect better results in the coming year than the previous year. Voluntary employee attrition is also increasing as the labor market strengthens. While pursuing organic growth strategies over partnerships, companies report focusing internally on aspects like technology, customers, and productivity to fuel future expansion. Uncertain economic conditions remain the top challenge to company growth according to the survey.
CIT: Voice of the Middle Market – Perspectives from the Heart of the U.S. Eco...CIT Group
According to U.S. Census data, middle market executives, whose companies take in more than $6 trillion in revenues and employ more than 30 million people annually, are expressing renewed optimism in their business prospects compared to a year ago. However, despite this positive outlook they are concerned about potential tax increases, government regulations, compliance with the Affordable Care Act and the current strength of the U.S. and global economies.
Q4 2014 SMB Job Generation Outlook ReportLucas Group
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
This document summarizes key findings from Proskauer's 2015 IPO Study, which analyzed 119 U.S.-listed IPOs from 2014. Some of the main findings include:
1) 2014 was a strong year for IPOs, with the most deals and highest proceeds since before the recession. However, IPOs struggled more to price within their ranges in the second half of the year as investor risk appetite declined.
2) The market absorbed both very large deals like Alibaba's and many smaller deals under $100 million, especially in biotech. Many deals were for companies without earnings or with losses.
3) The SEC review process was more efficient in 2014. Expenses rose due to
Q4 2013 SMB Job Generation Outlook ReportLucas Group
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
Q3 2013 SMB Job Generation Outlook ReportLucas Group
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
Q1 2014 SMB Job Generation Outlook ReportLucas Group
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
Q2 2013 SMB Job Generation Outlook Report Lucas Group
This document summarizes the results of a survey of small and mid-sized business executives regarding employment and economic trends in the second quarter of 2013. Some key findings include:
- Executives were more optimistic about their company's economic prospects and position in 2013 compared to the previous quarter, with 88% reporting their company is maintaining stability or experiencing growth.
- Optimism about job growth prospects for their own company cooled slightly, while views about the national economy remained similar to the previous quarter.
- Most executives agree that small businesses are important job creators for the US economy, though fewer see their own company in this role.
- The majority of executives are preparing for requirements of the Affordable Care
The survey found that mid-market companies are moderating their spending and investments compared to six months ago, despite remaining confident in the economy. Hiring and capital spending growth have slowed, though companies expect better results in the coming year than the previous year. Voluntary employee attrition is also increasing as the labor market strengthens. While pursuing organic growth strategies over partnerships, companies report focusing internally on aspects like technology, customers, and productivity to fuel future expansion. Uncertain economic conditions remain the top challenge to company growth according to the survey.
CIT: Voice of the Middle Market – Perspectives from the Heart of the U.S. Eco...CIT Group
According to U.S. Census data, middle market executives, whose companies take in more than $6 trillion in revenues and employ more than 30 million people annually, are expressing renewed optimism in their business prospects compared to a year ago. However, despite this positive outlook they are concerned about potential tax increases, government regulations, compliance with the Affordable Care Act and the current strength of the U.S. and global economies.
Q4 2014 SMB Job Generation Outlook ReportLucas Group
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
This document summarizes key findings from Proskauer's 2015 IPO Study, which analyzed 119 U.S.-listed IPOs from 2014. Some of the main findings include:
1) 2014 was a strong year for IPOs, with the most deals and highest proceeds since before the recession. However, IPOs struggled more to price within their ranges in the second half of the year as investor risk appetite declined.
2) The market absorbed both very large deals like Alibaba's and many smaller deals under $100 million, especially in biotech. Many deals were for companies without earnings or with losses.
3) The SEC review process was more efficient in 2014. Expenses rose due to
2017 Taiwan Business Climate Survey Full ReportGordon Stewart
This document provides a summary of the 2017 Taiwan Business Climate Survey results. Some key findings include:
- Current profitability remains relatively or very profitable for over two-thirds of companies surveyed over the last 7 years.
- Forecasts have stabilized in the past two years but the 5-year trend is still declining.
- Issues negatively impacting businesses include governmental bureaucracy, China-Taiwan relations, unclear labor laws, and political turmoil in Taiwan.
- China-Taiwan relations saw the most regression compared to last year's survey.
- Taiwan is generally not viewed as a high priority market globally but remains the primary focus for most companies surveyed.
Private equity and venture capital activity in the Midwest increased in the fourth quarter of 2017. The Bridgepoint Midwest Private Equity Index rose 13.0% year-over-year, while the Venture Capital Index grew 5.9% over the same period. Both indices saw increased transaction volumes and median deal sizes. Several sectors saw rising deal numbers, such as healthcare, information technology, and industrials. Overall, private investment in the Midwest regained momentum after declines in prior quarters, though valuations remained elevated.
The document summarizes key findings from Silicon Valley Bank's 2017 Startup Outlook survey of nearly 950 technology and healthcare executives. It finds that while startups remain optimistic, uncertainty from the new US administration and Brexit has weighed on outlooks. Fundraising is also getting more difficult as investors raise standards. However, the M&A market is strong and over 85% of startups expect the same or more M&A activity in 2017. Hiring projections remain stable as the talent shortage shows signs of easing.
Silicon Valley Bank's Life Science and Healthcare Startup Outlook Report examines how the industry's executives view 2017's opportunities and challenges. The report includes startups' thoughts on public policy issues as well as their expectations for fundraising and hiring.
Q2 2015 SMB Job Generation Outlook ReportLucas Group
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
Private Equity and Venture Capital volume is depressed amid uncertainty and a changing capital environment during the first quarter of 2017. Read Bridgepoint Merchant Banking's latest Midwest Capital Raise Update, measuring private equity and venture capital throughout the Midwest.
In our annual report on the healthcare industry, Silicon Valley Bank analyzes the fundraising, investment, M&A and IPO activity of private, venture-backed biopharma, medical device and diagnostic/tools companies.
Trends in Healthcare Investments and Exits: Mid-Year 2017Silicon Valley Bank
In our mid-year 2017 report on healthcare investing, SVB analyzed the fundraising, investment, M&A and IPO activity of private, venture-backed biopharma, medical device and diagnostic/tools companies.
Investment and fundraising in the healthcare ecosystem saw a banner first half of 2017, driven in part by advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning for healthcare applications and a surge in Series A investments, particularly in biopharma.
AmCham 2015 business climate survey final report Jan 2015Gordon Stewart
The survey summarizes the views of AmCham Taipei member companies on Taiwan's business climate and environment. While most companies were profitable in 2014 and have a positive 5-year outlook, they also face ongoing issues like inconsistent regulations, bureaucracy, outdated laws, and a lack of transparency. The top impacts on business are inconsistent regulatory interpretation and changes in local demand. Support exists for trade agreements but political obstacles remain. Regulatory reform is needed to strengthen Taiwan's competitiveness and attractiveness for foreign investment.
Interim Partners - Research White Paper 2014Claire Carter
The document discusses interim managers and the UK business environment. It finds that the use of interim managers at senior levels is increasing as businesses focus more on performance. While cost-cutting pressure has eased, the pressure to deliver results remains high. This has led to greater demand for interim managers who can prove they can improve performance. The document also examines which sectors and roles interim managers expect to see the highest demand for in the coming year, with project/programme delivery roles expected to be most in demand.
Venture Capital Investments Q4 06 - MoneyTree mensa25
Venture capital investing in the US hit $25.5 billion in 2006, a 10% increase in deal volume and 12% increase in dollar value from 2005. Life sciences saw the most growth, with biotech and medical devices reaching record high levels. Expansion stage companies and first-time financings also increased significantly. Software and industrial/energy sectors also experienced growth, while networking/equipment, computers, and financial services declined.
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
Key insights from Silicon Valley Bank's Startup Outlook Report. SoCal startups are fueled by a flourishing ecosystem that includes a growing number of local equity capital sources from both venture capitalists and corporate investors. While their outlook is cautiously optimistic, they continue to hire.
Four months in, 2017 is shaping up to be a year of harvesting and replanting for the innovation economy.
The SVB Analytics team examined the private-company growth propelled by the large capital raises of 2014-15
and the subsequent plunge in large investments and exits in 2016. Given the activity we’ve seen in the first
quarter of 2017, we are forecasting significant harvesting of returns resulting from the last decade of sweeping
innovations.
Delivering more value to the business through
performance measurement and improved decision
support is the top priority for the finance function
through 2020. Among senior finance professionals
participating in the 2014 EY Global Insurance CFO
Survey, 71% indicated that “being a better business
partner” ranked among their top three priorities,
with 35% placing this as number one.
Possibly the most worrying development was the explosive rise of operating costs. More than half of the professionals responding to the survey reported problems with input inflation. The recovery picked up speed in early 2011 but conditions remain fragile and new challenges have emerged like rising inflation. Confidence improved this quarter but developing countries reported slightly less investment and more layoffs as businesses come to terms with the weaker-than-expected recovery.
THE SECOND MYANMAR BUSINESS CONFIDENCE SURVEY DECEMBER 2017MYO AUNG Myanmar
THE SECOND MYANMAR BUSINESS CONFIDENCE SURVEY DECEMBER 2017 Roland Berger in partnership with Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) The second Myanmar business confidence survey conducted by Roland Berger in partnership with Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the latter half of 2017, shows a significant drop in short-term business sentiment from (73%) a year ago to (49%) this year. The core reason for the drop in confidence is lack of a clear economic policy and plan, cited by 77% of companies as a significant or very significant issue. However, 88% of companies remain optimistic about Myanmar's mid- to long-term outlook. http://www.rfa.org/burmese/news/myanmar-business-survey-12122017060055.html ၂၀၁၇ ခုႏွစ ျမန ္ မာ ္ ့ စီးပြားေရးစစတမ ္ း ထုတ ္ ္ျပန https://www.rolandberger.com/en/Myanmar/ https://www.rolandberger.com/en/Publications/pub_myanmar_banking_sector_2025.html https://www.facebook.com/MizzimaDaily/videos/1772138099487754/ http://eurocham-myanmar.org/uploads/3f7e2-whitebook2017_eng.pdf
The outlook for the Chinese tech sector is strong, with a large number of startups saying they expect more M&A opportunities. Access to talent and raising capital remain challenging. Compared to the US and UK, a higher percentage of Chinese startups have women in senior company roles and at least one woman on
the founding team.
This document provides an investment portfolio for Mr. Donothing constructed by a team to fulfill his short and long-term financial needs. It analyzes the economy, selects industries of Internet information, biotechnology, and automobiles, and chooses individual companies to invest in from these industries. The portfolio aims to achieve a 10.57% annual return through diversifying 48.08% in stocks, 35.9% in mutual funds, 5.86% in commodities, and 5% in bonds. Appendices provide more details on the selected industries and companies.
State of tech venture investments in Southeast Asia - Q1 2017Tech in Asia
Using insights from Tech in Asia's database, this report delves into how tech venture investment is doing in Southeast Asia, and where it might go to next.
2017 Taiwan Business Climate Survey Full ReportGordon Stewart
This document provides a summary of the 2017 Taiwan Business Climate Survey results. Some key findings include:
- Current profitability remains relatively or very profitable for over two-thirds of companies surveyed over the last 7 years.
- Forecasts have stabilized in the past two years but the 5-year trend is still declining.
- Issues negatively impacting businesses include governmental bureaucracy, China-Taiwan relations, unclear labor laws, and political turmoil in Taiwan.
- China-Taiwan relations saw the most regression compared to last year's survey.
- Taiwan is generally not viewed as a high priority market globally but remains the primary focus for most companies surveyed.
Private equity and venture capital activity in the Midwest increased in the fourth quarter of 2017. The Bridgepoint Midwest Private Equity Index rose 13.0% year-over-year, while the Venture Capital Index grew 5.9% over the same period. Both indices saw increased transaction volumes and median deal sizes. Several sectors saw rising deal numbers, such as healthcare, information technology, and industrials. Overall, private investment in the Midwest regained momentum after declines in prior quarters, though valuations remained elevated.
The document summarizes key findings from Silicon Valley Bank's 2017 Startup Outlook survey of nearly 950 technology and healthcare executives. It finds that while startups remain optimistic, uncertainty from the new US administration and Brexit has weighed on outlooks. Fundraising is also getting more difficult as investors raise standards. However, the M&A market is strong and over 85% of startups expect the same or more M&A activity in 2017. Hiring projections remain stable as the talent shortage shows signs of easing.
Silicon Valley Bank's Life Science and Healthcare Startup Outlook Report examines how the industry's executives view 2017's opportunities and challenges. The report includes startups' thoughts on public policy issues as well as their expectations for fundraising and hiring.
Q2 2015 SMB Job Generation Outlook ReportLucas Group
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
Private Equity and Venture Capital volume is depressed amid uncertainty and a changing capital environment during the first quarter of 2017. Read Bridgepoint Merchant Banking's latest Midwest Capital Raise Update, measuring private equity and venture capital throughout the Midwest.
In our annual report on the healthcare industry, Silicon Valley Bank analyzes the fundraising, investment, M&A and IPO activity of private, venture-backed biopharma, medical device and diagnostic/tools companies.
Trends in Healthcare Investments and Exits: Mid-Year 2017Silicon Valley Bank
In our mid-year 2017 report on healthcare investing, SVB analyzed the fundraising, investment, M&A and IPO activity of private, venture-backed biopharma, medical device and diagnostic/tools companies.
Investment and fundraising in the healthcare ecosystem saw a banner first half of 2017, driven in part by advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning for healthcare applications and a surge in Series A investments, particularly in biopharma.
AmCham 2015 business climate survey final report Jan 2015Gordon Stewart
The survey summarizes the views of AmCham Taipei member companies on Taiwan's business climate and environment. While most companies were profitable in 2014 and have a positive 5-year outlook, they also face ongoing issues like inconsistent regulations, bureaucracy, outdated laws, and a lack of transparency. The top impacts on business are inconsistent regulatory interpretation and changes in local demand. Support exists for trade agreements but political obstacles remain. Regulatory reform is needed to strengthen Taiwan's competitiveness and attractiveness for foreign investment.
Interim Partners - Research White Paper 2014Claire Carter
The document discusses interim managers and the UK business environment. It finds that the use of interim managers at senior levels is increasing as businesses focus more on performance. While cost-cutting pressure has eased, the pressure to deliver results remains high. This has led to greater demand for interim managers who can prove they can improve performance. The document also examines which sectors and roles interim managers expect to see the highest demand for in the coming year, with project/programme delivery roles expected to be most in demand.
Venture Capital Investments Q4 06 - MoneyTree mensa25
Venture capital investing in the US hit $25.5 billion in 2006, a 10% increase in deal volume and 12% increase in dollar value from 2005. Life sciences saw the most growth, with biotech and medical devices reaching record high levels. Expansion stage companies and first-time financings also increased significantly. Software and industrial/energy sectors also experienced growth, while networking/equipment, computers, and financial services declined.
The Lucas Group SMB Job Generation Outlook began in 2013 as the only national report defining the economic and employment landscape for small to mid-sized businesses.
Key insights from Silicon Valley Bank's Startup Outlook Report. SoCal startups are fueled by a flourishing ecosystem that includes a growing number of local equity capital sources from both venture capitalists and corporate investors. While their outlook is cautiously optimistic, they continue to hire.
Four months in, 2017 is shaping up to be a year of harvesting and replanting for the innovation economy.
The SVB Analytics team examined the private-company growth propelled by the large capital raises of 2014-15
and the subsequent plunge in large investments and exits in 2016. Given the activity we’ve seen in the first
quarter of 2017, we are forecasting significant harvesting of returns resulting from the last decade of sweeping
innovations.
Delivering more value to the business through
performance measurement and improved decision
support is the top priority for the finance function
through 2020. Among senior finance professionals
participating in the 2014 EY Global Insurance CFO
Survey, 71% indicated that “being a better business
partner” ranked among their top three priorities,
with 35% placing this as number one.
Possibly the most worrying development was the explosive rise of operating costs. More than half of the professionals responding to the survey reported problems with input inflation. The recovery picked up speed in early 2011 but conditions remain fragile and new challenges have emerged like rising inflation. Confidence improved this quarter but developing countries reported slightly less investment and more layoffs as businesses come to terms with the weaker-than-expected recovery.
THE SECOND MYANMAR BUSINESS CONFIDENCE SURVEY DECEMBER 2017MYO AUNG Myanmar
THE SECOND MYANMAR BUSINESS CONFIDENCE SURVEY DECEMBER 2017 Roland Berger in partnership with Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) The second Myanmar business confidence survey conducted by Roland Berger in partnership with Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the latter half of 2017, shows a significant drop in short-term business sentiment from (73%) a year ago to (49%) this year. The core reason for the drop in confidence is lack of a clear economic policy and plan, cited by 77% of companies as a significant or very significant issue. However, 88% of companies remain optimistic about Myanmar's mid- to long-term outlook. http://www.rfa.org/burmese/news/myanmar-business-survey-12122017060055.html ၂၀၁၇ ခုႏွစ ျမန ္ မာ ္ ့ စီးပြားေရးစစတမ ္ း ထုတ ္ ္ျပန https://www.rolandberger.com/en/Myanmar/ https://www.rolandberger.com/en/Publications/pub_myanmar_banking_sector_2025.html https://www.facebook.com/MizzimaDaily/videos/1772138099487754/ http://eurocham-myanmar.org/uploads/3f7e2-whitebook2017_eng.pdf
The outlook for the Chinese tech sector is strong, with a large number of startups saying they expect more M&A opportunities. Access to talent and raising capital remain challenging. Compared to the US and UK, a higher percentage of Chinese startups have women in senior company roles and at least one woman on
the founding team.
This document provides an investment portfolio for Mr. Donothing constructed by a team to fulfill his short and long-term financial needs. It analyzes the economy, selects industries of Internet information, biotechnology, and automobiles, and chooses individual companies to invest in from these industries. The portfolio aims to achieve a 10.57% annual return through diversifying 48.08% in stocks, 35.9% in mutual funds, 5.86% in commodities, and 5% in bonds. Appendices provide more details on the selected industries and companies.
State of tech venture investments in Southeast Asia - Q1 2017Tech in Asia
Using insights from Tech in Asia's database, this report delves into how tech venture investment is doing in Southeast Asia, and where it might go to next.
Small Business Economic Trends Report from NFIB -- July 2015NFIB
After giving up over 4 points in June, NFIB's Small Business Optimism Index clawed back 1.3 points in July, a familiar theme now, which has produced the most grudging gains in the
Index’s history – and still not above the 42 year average of 98. Expectations for business conditions and real sales gains accounted for half of the net gain in the Index components.
10th Annual Taiwan Business Climate Study 2020Gordon Stewart
Survey of Taiwan business leaders (Chairs, Presidents, CEO's, MD's and GM's), of current results and forecasts for business growth, investment, and hiring status in Taiwan.
Business indicators tracked for ten years with trend lines.
First published on January 12, 2020
The business outlook across Asia for 2014 looks set for a positive trajectory, but there are a number of uncertainties that will have many business leaders watching over their shoulders.
The latest Executive Outlook Survey 2014 from KellyOCG shows that while there is widespread agreement about continuing economic and business improvement, it is not unbridled optimism.
Global economic events and local Asian business sentiment are coalescing in 2014 to produce a whirlwind of possible scenarios for the world economy.
November 2018 Economic Minute with Dennis HoffmanShay Moser
The document discusses whether 3% economic growth in the US is sustainable. It presents arguments on both sides of the issue. Growth forecasts from analysts generally see GDP growth slowing to under 3% in 2019 due to factors like fading tax cuts, rising interest rates, and a global growth slowdown. Key indicators that will influence growth are business investment levels, trade balances, and how consumer and business confidence are impacted by rising rates. Attending an upcoming economic forecast luncheon is suggested to get the latest views on 2019 growth prospects.
For the first time, SVB surveyed technology and life science entrepreneurs based in Canada. Like their counterparts in the US, UK and China, Canadian startups are optimistic about the year ahead even amid economic volatility. And while eager to hire and fundraise, they recognize the challenges they face. Most startups say Canadian government support of the innovation economy is having a positive impact. When it comes to gender parity, 60 percent of Canadian startups have at least one woman in an executive position. Looking ahead, we asked which technologies will have the most promise a decade from now: Canadian startups say AI and life science.
For the 10th year, Silicon Valley Bank is proud to present
our Startup Outlook Report. The innovation economy has
expanded greatly in the US and abroad in the past decade,
and so has Startup Outlook. In our first report, we surveyed
300 people, most of them in California. The 2019 report
includes the perspectives of nearly 1,400 technology and
healthcare founders and executives primarily in major
innovation hubs across the US, the UK, China and, for the
first time, Canada.
The Silicon Valley Bank Startup Outlook report is based on an annual survey of private startup companies across the U.S. in the software, life science, hardware and cleantech sectors. This year, we surveyed startups in the UK for the first time too, and those findings can be found at svb.com/uk/startup-outlook-report. The reports found on this page break down the survey results and feature the issues that are of most importance to startup companies, such as hiring high skilled workers and dealing with the medical device tax. As more reports are completed you will find the updates here, so please mark this page and visit us again in the near future.
The document summarizes a market perspectives report from May 2019. It discusses the Q1 2019 corporate earnings season, which saw 76% of S&P 500 companies beat earnings expectations. While earnings growth was positive, companies relying more on international revenue saw declines as trade tensions increased global economic uncertainty. Looking forward, progress in US-China trade talks will be important for continued optimism, as earnings disruptions may occur if disputes persist.
This document brings together a set of latest data points and publicly available information relevant for Digital Customer Experience Industry. We are very excited to share this content and believe that readers will benefit from this periodic publication immensely.
After years of economic hardship, CEOs are more optimistic about the global economy but less confident about their own company's growth prospects. While some developed markets are recovering, growth has slowed in some emerging markets like Brazil and India. CEOs are reviewing their international strategies and looking for new growth opportunities through innovation, existing markets, and countries like the US, Germany and Indonesia. However, barriers to growth remain, with the increasing tax burden emerging as a top concern - 70% of CEOs named it as such. Views on tax issues vary between regions and sectors.
I ASEAN Busines Optimism Index Q4 2015 har vi har samlet det kvartalsvise indeks for seks markeder i Sydøstasien, som tilsammen stå for mere end 95% af ASEAN BNP. Der er tale om Indonesien, Malaysia, Filippinerne, Singapore, Thailand og Vietnam.
Brent Woyat, a portfolio manager at OceanForest Investment Partners, provides a quarterly commentary on the capital markets and his investment outlook. He notes that while the media focuses on negative economic indicators, several business leaders including Warren Buffett, Steve Ballmer, and Jeff Immelt expressed optimism about long-term economic growth at a recent conference. Woyat also cites a McKinsey survey finding that most executives expect rising profits and hiring. Based on these positive views, Woyat remains bullish on the global economy and recommends clients maintain their full target equity allocations. He further discusses the quarterly performance of the firm's portfolio mandates, highlighting several holdings with double-digit returns.
PAX Global held its 2019 earnings call on March 31, 2020. The company reported record highs in revenue, net profit, and proposed final dividend for 2019. It also saw strong growth in its overseas business and Android products. However, PAX remains cautious about the impact of COVID-19 on its supply chain and customer orders in 2020. PAX outlined its key strategies going forward around branding, software focus, global partnerships, market penetration, R&D investment, and M&A. Its financial targets for 2020 call for flat revenue growth and profit margins over 15% and 39% despite COVID-19 uncertainty.
2017 Taiwan Business Climate Survey Full ReportGordon Stewart
This document provides a summary of the 2017 Taiwan Business Climate Survey results. Some key findings include:
- Current profitability remains relatively or very profitable for over two-thirds of companies surveyed over the last 7 years.
- Forecasts have stabilized in the past two years but the 5-year trend is still declining.
- Issues negatively impacting businesses include governmental bureaucracy, China-Taiwan relations, unclear labor laws, and political turmoil in Taiwan.
- China-Taiwan relations saw the most regression compared to last year's survey.
- Taiwan is generally not viewed as a high priority market globally but is the primary focus for most companies surveyed.
GT Events and Program Guide is a look ahead at the latest knowledge and insights available from Grant Thornton LLP. It includes a collection of our research, thought leadership and a schedule of upcoming webcasts and events.
The document summarizes key findings from a survey of CFOs in Southeast Asia. It finds that:
1) CFO optimism in the region is growing slightly but consumer business CFOs are less optimistic; Indonesia has the highest optimism.
2) Southeast Asia is primarily used as a large consumer market, with Indonesia seen as most important in the next 3 years.
3) Organic growth is preferred over M&A for market expansion, while bureaucracy is cited as the top obstacle.
Similar to 2019 taiwan business_climate_study_-_jan_10 (20)
This document summarizes the results of a survey of Taiwan businesses that was originally conducted in late 2019 and updated in March 2020 regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey found that most businesses have substantially lowered their revenue and profit forecasts for 2020 compared to late 2019. The percentage of businesses forecasting increased investment in Taiwan dropped dramatically from over 50% to just 16%. However, optimism about the 5-year outlook remained high, with 46% of businesses still optimistic. Some businesses provided comments noting both short-term negative impacts but optimism about Taiwan's long-term prospects due to its effective pandemic response.
This document summarizes the results of the 2019 Taiwan Business Climate Survey conducted amongst over 200 key business leaders in Taiwan. The survey found that profitability levels are at their lowest in 9 years, with forecasts for 2019 revenues, profits, and investment declining or flat compared to previous years. Employment growth is also forecast to slow. Issues such as governmental bureaucracy, differences from international standards, protectionism, and inadequate laws continue to negatively impact businesses. Survey respondents see Taiwanese workers as hardworking but lacking creativity and initiative. The outlook for the next 5 years is sluggish, with less than half of respondents optimistic. In summary, the survey finds Taiwan's business climate deteriorating, with recurring issues still not adequately addressed.
AmCham 2016 Business Climate Survey Full results Jan 19Gordon Stewart
- The survey found that 67% of companies were profitable in 2015, similar to previous years. However, forecasts for 2016 show a slight expected decline in revenues and profits.
- Investment levels are expected to remain unchanged or decrease slightly in 2016 after recovering in past years.
- Optimism in the 5-year business outlook dropped sharply from 60% to 47%, tracking a decline in Taiwan's GDP growth and raising concerns.
- The top issues impacting businesses are outdated laws, inconsistent regulations, declining domestic demand, bureaucracy, and lack of notice on legal changes.
AmCham Taipei 2016 Business Climate Survey - Full results Jan 19Gordon Stewart
- The survey found that 67% of companies were profitable in 2015, similar to previous years. However, forecasts for 2016 show a slight expected decline in revenues and profits.
- Investment levels are expected to remain unchanged or decrease slightly in 2016 after recovering in past years.
- Optimism in the 5-year business outlook dropped sharply from 60% to 47%, tracking a decline in Taiwan's GDP growth and raising concerns.
- The top issues impacting businesses are outdated laws, inconsistent regulations, declining domestic demand, bureaucracy, and lack of notice on legal changes.
2013 Taiwan Business Climate Survey Jan 17 2013Gordon Stewart
The survey asked AmCham business leaders about their 2012 financial performance and 2013 forecasts. While most said 2012 was profitable, fewer were as profitable as prior years. For 2013, leaders forecast modest revenue and profit growth. Investment in Taiwan is expected to rise slightly. However, the 5-year business outlook continued declining significantly year-over-year. Bureaucracy remains a key concern that businesses want the government to address aggressively.
AmCham Taipei 2012 Business Climate Survey JanuaryGordon Stewart
The 2012 AmCham Taipei Business Climate Survey found that members were generally optimistic about Taiwan's economy and their own business prospects. Nearly half planned to increase investment in Taiwan in 2012. However, forecasts for revenue and profit growth in 2012 were lower than in 2011, likely due to global economic uncertainty. The survey highlighted talent shortages, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and tax rates as challenges. Members commended Taiwan's economic relations progress but saw opportunities for further reforms.
Taiwan Business Climate Survey Jan. 2011 - FULL REPORTGordon Stewart
The survey summarizes the responses of 117 business leaders from AmCham Taipei on Taiwan's business climate and investment environment. Key findings include:
- Business leaders expressed optimism about their future in Taiwan, with most planning to increase investment in 2011. However, Taiwan is not a high priority globally for their companies.
- While progress was noted in some areas, respondents saw room for improvement in reducing government bureaucracy, personal taxation, increasing labor flexibility, and R&D incentives.
- Changes in local demand had the greatest impact, but taxation, inconsistent regulations, and outdated laws also negatively impacted businesses.
- Recruiting talent and rigid laws were issues, though Taiwan was seen as safe and easy
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2. Table of Contents
Background..................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Commentary on the results ........................................................................................................................................................... 2
Summary of Key Financial Indicators with 9-year Trendline ..................................................................................................... 3
2018 Profitability: A major drop................................................................................................................................................5
Forecast for 2019 Revenues and Profits: Declining ...................................................................................................................7
Investment Forecast for 2019: Lowest in 9 years................................................................................................................... 8
Forecast for the next 5 years: Sluggish ...................................................................................................................................... 9
Employment and Human Resources Trends............................................................................................................................... 11
Forecast changes in employment: Growing, but slowing....................................................................................................12
Taiwanese Human Capital............................................................................................................................................................13
Impacts & Issues ...........................................................................................................................................................................16
The major risks confronting business..........................................................................................................................................19
Taiwan Government(s) ................................................................................................................................................................20
3. Taiwan Business Climate Survey 2019
Background
For the last nine consecutive years, it has been our pleasure to conduct the Taiwan Business Climate Survey amongst key
business leaders.
This year’s study again saw over 200 key business leaders - many with job titles such as Chairman, President, CEO,
and Managing Director - give their views and opinions. Collectively, these leaders employ more than 126,000 full-
time equivalent people throughout Taiwan.
Their insights, findings and forecasts should be of interest to all those concerned with Taiwan’s business environment. The
historical trends and recurring issues should be of particular relevance to both legislators and voters.
The survey was conducted from November 1 to December 21, 2018. This period straddled, amongst other things, the local
(nine-in-one) elections and the multi-question referendum, along with significant, and potentially negative, changes in
green energy incentives.
We would like to sincerely thank all those who took part in this study for their time, insights, and comments. We hope you
find the following summary of interest and help.
Please feel free to contact Gordon Stewart if you would like any further elaboration.
Commentary on the results
It is hard to be positive about most of the results of this year’s survey.
Profitability levels are at their lowest in nine years. Forecasts for 2019 revenues and profitability are flat. Investment
forecasts are down. Employment forecasts are slowing.
The same issues, which governments appear reluctant or incapable of fixing (e.g., governmental bureaucracy, differences
between local and internationally accepted standards, domestic protectionism, inadequate/outdated laws, etc.),
continually reappear as causes for concern by employers.
With an otherwise stellar workforce, the same concerns are continually expressed regarding employees lacking in
creativity and innovation.
In addition, the survey also addresses general ‘quality of living’ issues. Again, whilst generally very positive, we find
concerns amongst business leaders remain. For example, pedestrian safety at designated crossings, which have simple
solutions, continue to be ignored year after year.
At Independent Marketing & Research, we sincerely hope that this year the government listens, and more importantly,
acts towards removing some of these issues. There is a time for polite, politically correct speech and there’s a time for
action.
Now, more than ever, is the time for government to do something.
4. Summary of Key Financial Indicators with 9-year Trendline
To track changes and detect trends over the past 9 years, we have asked identical questions each year relating to Taiwan
enterprises’ current and forecasted financial performance. They are:
➢ How would you characterize your Taiwan business' financial performance in 2018?
➢ What is likely to happen to your entity's level of investment in Taiwan over the next 12 months?
➢ What are your Taiwan business' revenue and profit forecasts for next year (2019) compared to this year?
➢ How would you describe your five-year business outlook for Taiwan?
Business in Taiwan remains in the “Relatively Profitable” to “Very Profitable” zone for more than half of the companies.
However, this is a statistically significant drop from the prior eight years, when more than two-thirds of respondents
traditionally reported a profit.
There has also been a disconcerting nine percent drop in forecasted investment levels.
5. The pattern across all measures is at best flat or trending in the wrong direction. Other recent published results and forecasts
support the direction and sentiment of this study.
6. 2018 Profitability: A major drop
In 2017 over two thirds (68%) of our business leaders said their entities experienced either a “relatively” or “very
profitable” year. However, in 2018 only 54% were able to claim that.
There was also a statistically significant increase in those entities reporting just “breaking even or making a small profit or
loss” – up from 28% to 42% in 2018.
These results are contrary to prior years and reflect that profitability in Taiwan has been subjected to some adverse
impacts by, amongst other things, rising labour costs.
7. Only 45% of entities experienced profit growth in 2018. Down from 54% in 2017. A quarter of all entities also reported an
absolute decline in profits.
8. Forecast for 2019 Revenues and Profits: Declining
The outlook for 2019 revenue and profits is weaker than in previous years but generally is still positive - with a slight
majority of our business leaders forecasting growth in their revenues and profits.
17% expect a decline in both measures – a jump compared to prior years.
9. Investment Forecast for 2019: Lowest in 9 years
Forecasted levels of investment are lower for 2019 than they were for 2018. This is the first time in the nine years of this
survey that less than forty percent (38%) of entities said they would increase their investment in Taiwan next year.
10. Forecast for the next 5 years: Sluggish
This year less than half (49%) of our business leaders are saying they are either “slightly optimistic” or “optimistic” about
the next 5 years of business in Taiwan. This sluggish result should be a major cause of concern for the government, as
should the steady year-on-year decline of the sum of the “slightly optimistic” and “optimistic” scores.
11. We asked our respondents if they would like to comment on their forecasts; just under a third chose to.
Most (49%) of those expressed slightly optimistic or optimistic ratings and sentiments.
[However, we caution that several of these positive ratings were made prior to some negative news/decisions being
made regarding green energy. Consequently, this optimism may be overstated.]
A third (34%) expressed what could be described as negative or pessimistic comments/ratings.
Neutral comments were made by 17%.
Examples of each type are shown below.
Positive rating Neutral rating Negative rating
“Circular Economy trends
promote the material recycling
and waste to energy industry.
i.e. Green Energy.”
“A 5-year boom market.
Taiwan's offshore wind market
is entering the construction
phase and bringing up
collateral markets with it.”
“US-China trade war and
increased uncertainty in China
will cause supply chain to leave
China and possibly return to
Taiwan.”
“Benefiting from various
tariffs/sanctions/anti-dumping
imposed on goods made in the
PRC to Europe and USA.”
” Economic conditions and
lack of investment in the
country will lead to a neutral
business outlook.”
“Taiwan may benefit slightly
from the tension between the
U.S. and China, but that may
be offset by a general reduction
in trade and investment.
Domestically, Taiwan still
hasn't found its ‘next big thing’
“
“A lot depends on the China
situation.”
” Taiwan is losing its
competitiveness in the region.”
“Government not willing to
make decisions to move ahead
in Fintech. “
“The US-CN Trade War, the
economic cycle, no innovative
attractive products, ageing in a
developed economy, Brexit,
etc.”
“Taiwan increasingly
becoming irrelevant compared
to most other markets in Asia
and Africa.”
12. Employment and Human Resources Trends
DEFINITION: Full-Time Equivalent Employees (FTEE) are determined by counting part-time employees as half an
employee and adding them to the number of full-time employees
40% of all companies surveyed increased their employment numbers “slightly” or “significantly” during 2018.
Whilst a positive result, this is the lowest level of growth reported in 6 years.
Taiwan Labor Standards Act
Several changes to the labour laws in late 2016/early 2017 had a profound
impact, resulting in increased management effort and costs of compliance.
Further amendments took effect in March 2018, which seem to have,
generally speaking, rolled back or relaxed changes made earlier, and have to
some extent clarified the situation – if not necessarily reduced the financial
impost on companies.
13. Forecast changes in employment: Growing, but slowing
Employment growth is forecast for 2019 by only 38% of all entities. This is the first time in the 6 years we have been
measuring this that forecast growth has been recorded at below 40%.
When those who say they will reduce headcount are removed from those who have, or will, increase their employee
numbers, the weighted results show a slowing in the rates of growth – both in actual numbers employed and levels of
forecast growth.
14. Taiwanese Human Capital
Over the past 9 years, Taiwanese workers have consistently been perceived as being: Hard-working; Very trustworthy;
Good team players; Very loyal; Extremely well-educated; Easy to develop/train; Highly productive; Showing a high degree
of Emotional Intelligence (EQ); and Easy to retain. All of these are wonderful characteristics for employees to have.
The following table expresses the weighted index scores given on each criterion. The higher the number the more strongly
positive the sentiment.
Attribute 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Average
Hard-
working
111 111 112 107 112 104 120 119 129 114
Very
trustworthy
93 103 95 95 95 87 89 84 91 93
Good team
players
84 78 Attribute first introduced in 2018 81
Very loyal 61 64 70 60 70 52 55 52 61 61
Extremely
well-educated
55 67 85 58% 85 57 76 79 80 72
Easy to
develop/
train
50 62 75 68 75 50 40 46 49 57
Highly
productive
34 55 67 65 67 47 43 54 49 53
Show a high
degree of
Emotional
Intelligence
(EQ)
30 28 46 21 46 26 24 26 18 29
Easy to retain 29 39 26 26 26 22 2 -16 -14 15
15. Sadly, however, Taiwanese workers are also perceived as showing: a lack of initiative; of not being innovative; not showing
a great deal of creativity in problem solving; not being of 'world class' standard; failing to have good English language
skills (if required for role and/or promotion); being difficult to recruit; and not being ‘well-rounded’.
The lack of initiative and low creativity scores are reminiscent of the problems experienced by Singapore more than two
decades ago when the Singaporean government recognized that students were academically sound but lacking in creative
and creative abilities. As stated by the then Prime Minister in 1997 “A nation's wealth in the 21st Century will depend on
the capacity of its people to learn. Their imagination, their ability to seek out new technologies and ideas, and to apply
them in everything they do will be the key source of economic growth. Their collective capacity to learn will determine
the well-being of a nation.” Consequently, the Singaporean government instituted ‘creativity and innovation classes’ into
its school curriculum. *
Singapore is today ranked number 5 in the World after Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK, on the Global
Innovation Index (GII) 2018.** Singapore is the only Asian country to feature in the top 10, well ahead of the Republic of
Korea (12), Japan (13), Hong Kong (14) and China, for the first time featured onto the top 20 list, at position 17.
Is it time for Taiwan to adopt a similar education strategy as Singapore?
*For further references please see: “Shaping our future: Thinking Schools, Learning Nation” speech by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on 2 June 1997
and “The education system in Singapore.” Tan, Charlene & Koh, Kim & Choy, William. (2016).
**Released jointly by WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), Cornell University, INSEAD and the 2018 GII Knowledge Partners.
16. Taiwanese Human Capital is NOT seen as…
Attribute 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 Average
Show a
great deal
of initiative
-55 -20 -8 -8 -8 -17 -3 7 3 -12
Innovative -47 -28 -9 -22 -9 Attribute first introduced in 2015 -23
Show a
great deal
of
creativity
-45 -39 -23 -10 -23 -17 -21 -17 -10 -23
Of 'world
class'
standard
-34 -26 -15 -24 -15 -26 -20 -14 -22 -22
Good
English
language
skills (if
required
for role
and/or
promotion)
-33 -14 2 -15 2 -26
Attribute first introduced in
2014
-14
Easy to
recruit
-18 -5 4 -27 4 -6 -16 -11 -11 -10
Well-
rounded
-6 8 34 18 34 1 19 11 12 15
Some additional comments from our business leaders…
“We notice a decline in the quality of younger graduates. In particular, when it comes to English and most
surprising, computer skills (other than gaming).”
“Young people are pessimistic about their future. Too many college graduates, low wages, poor quality of high
education.”
“The ability to innovate, train and develop is inversely proportional to the age of the person. Creativity in
problem-solving is in the same bucket.”
“English and international skills and exposure are not here to become a regional hub resulting in losing
competitive advantage.”
“Not aggressive enough to compete in other countries.”
“Have difficulty filling direct labor (factory floor/manufacturing) jobs. “
17. Impacts & Issues
58 issues, across 6 broad categories, have been found to impact businesses in Taiwan today.
The largest concern for our respondents is a decline in their sales resulting from either changes in local demand (83%) or
changes in overseas demand (26%).
The fact that the primary focus of most of our businesses is to provide/source goods or services for the Taiwanese market
(71%), ties in with the concern over local demand.
The current and historical ranking of the specific impact items follows.
18. Issues are ranked based upon the greatest percentage of those businesses citing an issue as impacting their operation in
Taiwan
Issue
2019
Ranking
2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Ability to recruit
appropriate new personnel
1 8 9 7 6 9 5 3 4
Governmental bureaucracy 2 1 1 4 3 1 3 4 2
Differences between local
and internationally
accepted standards
3 7 10 8 7 7 New in 2014
Domestic protectionism 4 10 16 16 15 11 12 12 12
Inadequate/Out-dated
laws
5 6 7 1 4 5 4 6 5
Lack of flexibility in labour
laws
6 3 New in 2018
Inconsistent application of
the Rule of Law
7 11 6 6 5 4 New in 2014
The increasing cost of
labour (including labour
insurance, national health
insurance,
pension/retirement
benefits)
8 9 New in 2018
Political turmoil 9 16 5 11 10 13 New in 2014
PRC-Taiwan government
relations
10 5 2 12 11 16 13 7 8
19. Labour issues, understandably, have a major effect on business. An ability to recruit appropriate new personnel; the lack
of flexibility in labour laws; and the increasing cost of labour (including labour insurance, national health insurance,
pension/retirement benefits), are all having major impacts.
A persistent issue over the years has been and still is: Governmental Bureaucracy. All levels of government need to make
conscientious and continuous efforts to reduce unnecessary, time-consuming, and costly bureaucratic processes. There is
a need for governments to consistently question their processes and procedures.
Somewhat aligned with bureaucracy are differences between local and internationally accepted standards. Does Taiwan
really need to have different rules or standards from other sophisticated and well-regulated markets?
The belief that Taiwan has “Inadequate or Out-dated law” and the inconsistent application of laws contribute to the
negative perception of Taiwan’s bureaucracy.
On the political front, business wants a good deal less turmoil and better relations with the PRC.
Other topical issues affecting operations include:
Issue
2019
Ranking
2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Lack of transparency 11 13 13 10 9 8 9 10 10
Insufficient notice before changes to
regulations or laws are introduced
12 12 10 5 8 6 6 New in 2013
Lack of clarity in labour laws 13 2 3 New in 2017
Inconsistent regulatory interpretation 18 4 4 2 1 2 2 2 3
On a positive note, the one labour issue which has had a dramatic improvement is that there appears to be greater clarity
in the Labor Standards Act – presumably as a result of the amendments made in March 2018. This may also have helped
reduce the issue of “Inconsistent regulatory interpretation.”
20. The major risks confronting business
A slowdown in Taiwan’s domestic or in the global economy is of the greatest concern for our business leaders.
Concerns about increased government regulation and compliance costs; uncertainty/lack of flexibility in Taiwan's labour
laws; and uncertainty in the PRC-Taiwan relationship, lead the other major worries confronting business going into 2019.
Concerns about energy shortages make it into the top 10 risks (at position 9), for the first time. This issue is only likely to
grow as a matter of concern for business over the next few years.
Other risks. Some direct quotations:
“Ruling party is too ideological on political agenda, on the opposition, on China.”
“Our financial health relies on infrastructure and industrial growth and if regulations squeeze private
investment and Government slows down its spend in major projects (power, transportation, energy, etc.), then
we will suffer.”
“Oil price/cost of transportation & air travel.”
“Environmental (extreme weather, earthquake, etc.)”
“Lack of highly competitive talent pool.”
“US Tariffs on China-manufactured goods.”
“Changes in tax laws”
21. Taiwan Government(s)
Please note: When the term “Taiwan government” is used it is generally thought to relate to the central government, but in
some circumstances, it may also encompass local governments.
For the past nine years, we have asked” What are the three top things that the Taiwan government could do to help your
entity in the next 12 months? “Responses were then ranked based upon the greatest percentage of those businesses citing
an issue as impacting their operation in Taiwan.
Sadly, little progress has ever been made on these issues and when it does, as with corporate taxation, the progress is
reversed at a later date.
There was some progress in relation to clarifying the Labor Standards Act with the amendments made in March 2018 -
improving this issue by dropping it from 5th place a year ago to 34th place currently.
Issue
2019
Ranking
2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Increase flexibility of labour laws 1 1
Simplify government bureaucracy 2 2 5 1 2 2 1 1 1
Reduce political turmoil in Taiwan 3 4 2 2 1 1
Resolve inadequate/out-dated laws 4 14 6 3 3 7
Remove differences between local & internationally accepted
standards
5 3 4 7 4 5
Improve research & development incentives 6 11 11 10 15 20 8 5 9
Devise plans to stimulate local demand 7 6 8 5 6 3
Improve inadequate infrastructure (power, water,
telecommunications, transport, etc.)
8 8 23 17 25 27
Reduce tariffs 9 31 37 27 24 25 12 15 14
Reduce domestic protectionism 10 18 18 12 9 13
22. Issue
2019
Ranking
2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Provide sufficient notice before changes to regulations or
laws are introduced
11 7 3 6 8 8
Allow PRC personnel to travel to Taiwan 12 34 29 35 31 28
Devise plans to slow the human talent ‘Brain Drain’ 13 17
Increase direct foreign investment incentives 14 26 13 11 14 10 2 2 3
Reduce employment expenses 15 32 19 30 11 24
Educate civil servants on international regulatory best
practices
16 12
Remove or loosen prohibitions or restrictions on foreign
investment into Taiwan
17 16 22
Reduce corporate taxation further 18 38 32 18 20 17 4 4 4
Liberalise the labour market 19 21 20 15 12 22 5 6 11
Negotiate and sign more bilateral trade deals with other
countries
20 10 17 14 18 11 6 14 7
Other issues experiencing major changes in ranking importance
Issue
2019
Ranking
2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
Maintain reasonable and stable energy costs 24 33 28 34 22 19
Consistent application of the Rule of Law 25 9 1 8 7 4
Reduce personal taxation 27 19 7 5 5 6 3 3 2
Clarify labour laws 34 5 9
Introduce stronger Corporate Governance rules 38 42 27 36 32 26 11 12 10
23. Quality of Living
Business leaders consider Taiwan to be a safe, easy place to live, with nice people and a good healthcare system.
The main negatives were the safety of pedestrian (Zebra) crossings when there are no traffic lights, and as in previous
years poor air quality, far from excellent banking and financial services, and the lack of an English-friendly environment.
24. We asked if people agreed, or disagreed, with the statement "Where there are no traffic lights, pedestrian (Zebra)
crossings are a safe place to cross the road.”
They disagree. It received the most strongly negative response we have seen in nine years.
This public safety issue is something that the government and the police need to address as a priority.
25. A little bit more information…
The respondents to this survey represent a truly diverse group of businesses with their headquarters spread among North
American, European and Asia Pacific locations.
Size is chiefly determined by the number of full-time employee equivalents (FTEE) - and the respondents include
enterprises with FTEE from 1 to 25,000.
The mean average number employed across the group was 628.5 FTEE’s and the most frequently occurring size (the
mode) was 300.
An equivalent of more than 126,300 FTEE’s is represented by this sample.
The country where most of the companies had their global headquarters was in Taiwan, followed by the U.S.A.
26. The business leaders surveyed are clearly focused on Taiwan; the primary goal of most entities is to supply the Taiwan
market with goods or services. As in prior studies, this makes their comments and observations especially pertinent to:
1) the Taiwan government at the central and local level;
2) the governments of Taiwan's major trading partners, including those in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement
for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which Taiwan is hoping to join;
3) companies that currently, or plan to, supply goods and services to companies that already supply the Taiwan market
with goods and services;
4) trade associations both inside and outside Taiwan; and
5) scholars.
The remaining companies are primarily interested in exporting globally (12%), or to other specific markets.
In conclusion…
Business in Taiwan is suffering and is concerned that the government is not doing enough to alleviate many long-standing
issues. Some of which could be easily and quickly addressed. Others are long-term and therefore necessitate careful
thought and execution, but nonetheless, urgent immediate action is needed. The clarion call has sounded!
For more details please contact Independent Marketing & Research via
contact@independentmarketing.com.au