The document discusses Taiwan's potential for expansion of wood pellet production and sales based on its infrastructure, economy, and political situation. Key points include: - Taiwan has a government that promotes sustainability, many small businesses, increasing advances in technology, and exceptional transportation infrastructure including airports, ports, highways and high-speed rail. - The major cities of Taipei, Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, and Tainan were highlighted as potential locations due to their economic roles, infrastructure, and proximity to universities/industry. - Taiwan relies heavily on foreign energy sources making it receptive to alternative fuels like wood pellets. Its political situation also allows informal ties to other Asian markets

2. Wood Pellets Wood Pellet Furnace

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9. • Complex regional structure
• Poor infrastructure – roads & electricity
• Lowest EDB (Ease of Doing Business)
- 122 /181
• Warm weather – little need for heat products
• Abundant natural and energy resources
- the biggest producers of coal

10. • Isolated geographic location
• Language barrier
99% of the population are Japanese
• Infrastructure is owned by private company
Privatization of railroads
• Introduce the product in the wrong time – few competitors
Failed in 1982 due to the declining of oil price
• Very little to no natural and energy resources

11. • Small market in fuel pellets
• Product loyalty to local product
Local product is supported by government
Standard and quality

12. Taiwan China South Korea
High level of inter-regional
mobility √ √ √
Well established export
system, transportation system √ √ √
Population Stagnant Large Stagnant
EDB 61/181 83/181 23/181
(www.doingbusiness.com)
Economy & GDP Affluent Corruption Chaebols
Competition No Yes Few

13. • Taipei, capital of Taiwan
• Taipei metropolitan area includes
Taipei City, Taipei County and
Keelung City
• Central geographic location
relative to Eastern Asian
countries

14. • Taipei's international airport is located in Taoyuan
• Combination of metro and light rail trains,
conventional railways, an integrated system of
busses
• The HSR line starts in Taipei, and is home to the Port
of Taipei

15. • Considered to be the “economic, cultural and
political center” of Taiwan
• Stable banking services
• Neihu Technology Park, Taiwan Think Tank
Project

16. • Taipei boasts “the broadest wireless
b
broadband coverage” among world class cities
• Taipei Municipal Government focused on “the
strengthening of network equipment and infrastructure”
• 27 universities and vocational schools = top talent

17. Taoyuan
• One of the largest cities
•Very developed, with “many
department stores, supermarkets,
and international restaurants in
the city”

18. Taoyuan Continued...
• Excellent transportation system, with an HSR train
station, international airport (tourists would know this
as the “Taipei airport”), 2 north-south highways and
conventional railways connected to the rest of the
country

19. Hsinchu
• Role: transform Taiwan into a
high-technology country
• Home to Hsinchu Science and
Industrial Park ('The Silicon
Valley of Taiwan' ) with 400+
high tech companies
• Located next to two universities

20. Hsinchu Continued
• Excellent transportation options: HSR train station,
conventional railways, and highways to connect Hsinchu
to the rest of the country
• Common Wealth December 2003 Issue: Hsinchu
infrastructure is best in all of Taiwan, second best for “its
livability and investment environment.”

21. Taichung
• Home of small businesses, with
“with small eateries, traditional
markets, and other various family
businesses”
• Fun fact: Bubble tea was invented
here

22. z

23. Taichung Continued
• Taichung International Airport, HSR station,
Taichung
Harbor/port – “is the second largest cargo facility
on the island capable of handling container
shipping”, several highways, and 3 local
conventional
train stations

25. Taichung Continued
• Home to furniture
manufacturers –
possible source of raw
materials
• Industrial park with high
tech manufacturing
• 3rd largest city in Taiwan

26. Tainan
• 4th largest city
• Tainan Science Park (30 minutes
drive from Kaohsiung Int'l
A
Airport)
• County goal: to become well
known for new technology and
science advances

27. Tainan Continued
• The conventional railway system, Tainan Station =
major stop, “with direct connections to Taipei,
Kaohsiung, Taichung, Hsinchu and Keelung”
• HSR station located outside Tainan city, national
highways link Tainan to the rest of the country, along
w
with local highways and Tainan Airport (domestic)

28. Why are we not planning to expand to other
Taiwanese counties?
• Difficulties for access due to mountainous regions
• Lack of HSR stations which may or may not be
combined with lack of easy access to ports
• Difficulties in setting up a plant as large areas on the
east coast are protected by governments

29. Beyond Taiwan:
• Taiwan has informal ties with ASEAN (Association of
South East Asian Nations) and political ties with
China

32. Taiwan has what Firemaster is looking for to expand
their product:
- Government that promotes sustainability
- Many small businesses
- Increase in advanced technology
- Exceptional infrastructure
- Reliability on foreign energy sources