Taiwan, China: Investing

FDI in Figures

According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023, FDI flows to Taiwan reached USD 10.1 billion in 2022, up by 88.1% compared to one year earlier. At the end of the same period, the stock of FDI stood at about USD 1137.2 billion, around 18% of the island’s GDP. According to MOEA statistics, from January to December 2023, 2,310 foreign direct investment projects were approved, totalling USD 11.25 billion. This represents a 9.98% decrease in the number of projects and a 15.4% decrease in FDI compared to the same period in 2022. Specifically, inward investment from Mainland China saw 30 approved cases with USD 29.69 million in total for the same period, marking a 34.78% decrease in cases and a 23.34% decrease in FDI compared to 2022. From July 2009 to December 2023, 1,586 cases were approved, amounting to a total investment of USD 2.59 billion. Taiwan was the 18th-largest economy in terms of outward investment in 2022, with FDI outflows totalling USD 16.2 billion (+43.5% y-o-y). Between 2020 and 2023, only 5% of Taiwan’s total outbound foreign direct investment (FDI) projects were directed to China, a stark decline from the 42% observed between 2012 and 2015, and the 23% between 2016 and 2019, as reported by fDi Markets. Concurrently, Taiwanese companies amplified their investments in both India and Vietnam, which together accounted for nearly a quarter of total outbound FDI projects during the same period.

Taiwan is an attractive destination for foreign direct investment as its economy benefits from regional economic dynamism, a population with high purchasing power, a strategic location, and the prominence of high-tech. Structural impediments in Taiwan’s investment environment encompass excessive or inconsistent regulation, market influence wielded by domestic and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) across utilities, energy, postal, transportation, financial, and real estate sectors, as well as foreign ownership restrictions in sectors considered sensitive. Foreign entities have the right to establish entities, own business enterprises, and participate in all forms of remunerative activity in Taiwan, akin to local firms, unless stipulated otherwise in pertinent regulations. Notably, Taiwan imposes foreign ownership constraints in specific industries, such as a 60% limit on foreign ownership of wireless and fixed-line telecommunications firms, which includes a direct foreign investment cap of 49% in the sector. Taiwan has a thriving business environment: the country ranks 6th in the World Competitiveness Ranking, 4th out of 184 countries on the 2023 Index of Economic Freedom, and 20th globally in the IMD World Talent Ranking 2023.

Foreign Direct Investment	2020	2021	2022
FDI Inward Flow (million USD)	6,053	5,416	10,189
FDI Stock (million USD)	110,746	127,065	137,254
Number of Greenfield Investments*	72	81	73
Value of Greenfield Investments (million USD)	3,061	4,649	2,648

Source: UNCTAD, Latest data available.

Note: * Greenfield Investments are a form of Foreign Direct Investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up.

FDI STOCKS BY COUNTRY AND INDUSTRY

Main Investing Countries	2023, in %
China	48.5
Overseas territories in the Caribbean	9.7
Netherlands	9.0
USA	6.3
Japan	6.2
United Kingdom	2.9

Main Invested Sectors	2023, in %
Manufacturing	39.8
Financial and insurance	28.0
Wholesale and retail trade	10.7
Information and communication	5.2
Professional, scientific and technical services	5.1
Real estate	3.0
Electricity and gas supply	2.8

Source: Taiwan Department of Investment Review, Latest data available.

Form of Company Preferred By Foreign Investors: Public limited company.
Form of Establishment Preferred By Foreign Investors: Joint venture in the case of a partnership.
Main Foreign Companies: For a list of foreign companies who invested in Taiwan, refer to the "Success Stories" section on the Invest Taiwan portal.
Sources of Statistics: National Statistics

What to consider if you invest in Taiwan, China

Strong Points

Advantages for FDI in Taiwan include:

The country has a very internationally oriented economy and the trade balance is largely in surplus
A strategic geographical location: the country is a gateway to China and to the ASEAN markets
Taiwan has a large industrial base (being for example the 4th largest electronics producer in the world) and strong R&D capacity (supported by public spending)
Robust external financial position
Support for R&D through public expenditure
The workforce is abundant, skilled and affordable
The financial markets are booming and present many opportunities for foreign investors.
Overall, the business environment is very positive and Taiwan ranked in the 15th place in the World Bank's Doing Business 2020 report is a good indication of its strengths.

Weak Points

With an export-oriented economy, Taiwan is dependent on the global economy and is particularly vulnerable to the development of trade with China and the USA, its main trading partners. Some of the disadvatages for the FDI include :

Lack of a direct channel of communication with Mainland China
Reduced size of the domestic market, which considerably limits local opportunities
Poorly protected intellectual property
A lack of diversity in the economy (low competitiveness of the services sector for example)
Delays of infrastructure projects compared to other advanced Asian economies.

Government Measures to Motivate or Restrict FDI

Taiwan welcomes and actively promotes foreign direct investment. Local authorities offer investment incentives and support to foreign investors in the form of tax incentives, tariff exemptions, low-interest loans, R&D subsidies and other favourable terms.

Current regulations provide preferential tax incentives to foreign professionals employed in Taiwan, and are aimed at improving the overall environment for recruiting and attracting professionals from other countries (Foreign Talent Retention Act). A network of science and industrial parks, export processing zones, and free trade zones has been developed. Furthermore, in 2019 Taiwan launched a reshoring incentive program to attract Taiwan firms operating in mainland China to return to Taiwan, receiving positive responses from ICT manufacturers.

The national agency Invest Taiwan is responsible for promoting investments and acts as a single-window service provider. For investments of over NTD 500 million (around USD 17 million), the authorities will assign a dedicated project manager to the investment process.

Protection of Foreign Investment

Bilateral Investment Conventions Signed By Taiwan, China: To see the list of investment treaties signed by Taiwan, consult UNCTAD's International Investment Agreements Navigator.
International Controversies Registered By UNCTAD: Refer to UNCTAD's Investment Dispute Settlement Navigator.
Organizations Offering Their Assistance in Case of Disagreement: ICCWBO , International Court of Arbitration, International Chamber of Commerce
ICSID , International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes
Member of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency: Taiwan is not a signatory of the MIGA convention.

Country Comparison For the Protection of Investors	Taiwan, China	East Asia & Pacific	United States	Germany
Index of Transaction Transparency*	9.0	5.9	7.0	5.0
Index of Manager’s Responsibility**	5.0	5.2	9.0	5.0
Index of Shareholders’ Power***	7.0	6.7	9.0	5.0

Source: The World Bank - Doing Business, Latest data available.

Procedures Relative to Foreign Investment

Freedom of Establishment: Foreign entities are entitled to establish and own business enterprises and engage in all forms of remunerative activity as local companies. However, Taiwan maintains a negative list of industries closed to foreign investment for reasons related to national security and environmental protection (e.g. public utilities, power distribution, natural gas, postal service, telecommunications, mass media, and air and sea transportation).
Acquisition of Holdings: A majority holding interest in the capital of a Taiwanese company is legal. However the foreign ownership limit on wireless and fixed line telecommunications firms is 60%, including a direct foreign investment limit of 49%. A foreign ownership cap of less than 50% applies on airport ground services firms, air-catering companies, aviation transportation businesses (airlines), and general aviation businesses (commercial helicopters and business jet planes), with a separate limit of 25% for any single foreign investor. Foreign investment in Taiwan-flagged merchant shipping services is limited to 50% for Taiwan shipping companies operating international routes. Furthermore, there is a foreign ownership limit of 49.99% for satellite television broadcasting services and piped distribution of natural gas, and a 49% limit for high-speed rail services.
Specific restrictions apply to Chinese investors.
Obligation to Declare: The Investment Commission screens applications for FDI, mergers, and acquisitions. Foreign investors must submit an application form containing the funding plan, business operation plan, entity registration, and documents certifying the inward remittance of investment funds. If an investment fails review, an investor may re-apply once the reason for the denial has been removed.
Competent Organisation For the Declaration: Investment Commission (MOEAIC)
Requests For Specific Authorisations: All investments are subject to screening, with the approval time generally ranging between two to four days for small investments (under TWD 500 million) to 20-30 days for foreign investments involving cross-border mergers and acquisitions or other special situations. The screening process may also include an assessment of the impact of proposed investments on a sector’s competitive landscape and protection of the rights of local shareholders and employees.

Office Real Estate and Land Ownership

Possible Temporary Solutions: Consult InstantOffices, CoWorker, MatchOffice, etc.
The Possibility of Buying Land and Industrial and Commercial Buildings: Taiwan guarantees land rights to foreigners on a reciprocity base (Taiwanese citizens have to enjoy the same rights in the country of origin of the investor). However, Taiwan’s Land Act stipulated that forests, fisheries, hunting grounds, salt fields, mineral deposits, sources of water, and lands lying within fortified and military areas and those adjacent to national frontiers may not be transferred or leased to foreigners.
Risk of Expropriation: Expropriation can be justified only for public interest and fair compensation must be given within a reasonable period.
No foreign-invested firm has ever been nationalized or expropriated in Taiwan. Under Taiwan law no venture with 45% or more foreign investment can be nationalized for a period of 20 years after the venture is established.

Investment Aid

Forms of Aid: FDI incentives may take the form of tax exemption, tax credit, tax deferral, low interest loans, land lease incentives, R&D subsidies, etc.
Privileged Domains: Taiwanese authorities have been promoting the “5+2 Innovative Industries” development program targeting industries including smart machinery, biomedicine, Internet of Things (IoT), green energy, and national defence, as well advanced agriculture, circular economy, and semiconductors.
Privileged Geographical Zones: Incentives tend to be focused on investment in the manufacturing sector, advanced technology, public construction, biotechnology and R&D. For further information, consult the section "Key Industries for Investment Promotion" on the invest Taiwan portal.
Free-trade zones: There are seven free trade/free port zones: Anping, Kaohsiung, Keelung, Suao, Taichung, Taipei, and Taoyuan International Airport.
Taiwan has also over 70 industry clusters devoted to manufacturing products like Hsin Chu, Tainam. Further information can be retrieved on the Economic Geographic Information System (in Chinese).
Public aid and funding organisations: Consult the section "Investment Aid System" on the website of Invest Taiwan. Further information can be accessed here.

Investment Opportunities

The Key Sectors of the National Economy: Finance, wholesale and retail, and electronics sectors.
High Potential Sectors: Advanced technology, digital, traditional manufacturing, and services sectors.
Privatization Programmes: There are no privatization programs in progress. As of 2020, there are 17 state-owned companies with stakes by the central authorities exceeding 50%. Taiwan authorities retain control over some formerly state enterprises that have been privatized (often through the appointments of the boards of directors), including: Chunghwa Telecom, China Steel, China Airlines, Taiwan Fertilizer, Taiwan Salt, CSBC Corporation (shipbuilding), Yang Ming Marine Transportation, and eight public banks.
n August 2017, Taiwan authorities identified CPC Corporation, Taipower Company, and Taiwan Sugar as their next privatization targets; however, currently there is no timetable for privatising existing state-owned enterprises.
Tenders, Projects and Public Procurement: Tenders Info , Tenders in Taiwan Province of China
Asian Development Bank , Procurement Plans in Asia
DgMarket , Tenders Worldwide

Sectors Where Investment Opportunities Are Fewer

Monopolistic Sectors: Some of the 17 existing state-owned companies are large in scale and exert significant influence in their industries, especially monopolies such as Taiwan Power (Taipower) and Taiwan Water. Furthermore, CPC Corporation (formerly China Petroleum Corporation) controls over 70% of Taiwan’s gasoline retail market.

Finding Assistance For Further Information

Investment Aid Agency: Invest Taiwan (Ministry of Economic Affairs)
Other Useful Resources: Ministry of Economic Affairs
Taiwan External Trade Development Council
Doing Business Guides: Doing Business in Taiwan Guide (Thomson Reuters)
Doing Business in Taiwan - World Bank
Doing Business in Taiwan - UHY

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