Headline News

Taiwan celebrates National Day in The Hague

The Taipei Representative Office in the Netherlands hosted a crowded ROC National Day celebration on October 5 at the Hague Marriott. The stylish reception party was well-attended by representatives from Parliament, Ministries, Diplomatic Corps, trade, media, cultural and academic sector.

Ambassador Tom Chou referred in his address to the gender equality in Taiwan, symbolized by the first ever election of a lady President on Taiwan and the fact that 38% of elected parliamentarians are female.

The ambassador also outlined the spearheads of the policy set forth by President Tsai Ing-wen with the emphasis on democracy, peace and economy. Also the government’s Southbound policy, the big four industries and circular economy were touched upon including the business opportunities it generates for foreign participation.

The ambassador urged the Dutch community to capitalize on these opportunities, since there is a ‘Dutch fever’ kicking around Taiwan, particularly in the field of green energy, bio-tech medicine, smart machinery and national defense industries. “Although Taiwan and the Netherlands are small countries, we have high quality manpower and vibrant economies. Together, we can be a giant,” Tom Chou concluded.

Liberal fraction leader in the Senate and former Minister and Vice-Premier Annemarie Jorritsma (VVD), conveyed her congratulations on the 105^th National Day celebration and said to be a bit jealous of Taiwan for having a female President and the good experiences she encountered with females in Taiwan. The Senator also said to be jealous when she noticed Taiwanese singing their national anthem far more better than the Dutch people.

As a Mayor of Almere until last year, Jorritsma recalled and shared the memories of her visits to Taiwan and to Taiwanese companies located in her city and said to be impressed by the way Taiwanese employers treat their employees. “The Netherlands is very happy to cooperate so good with your country and the people of Taiwan, a heavy investor in East Asia, and from Taiwan it is easy to step over to China. I really hope and I am quite convinced that in the future we will intensify our cooperation more than we do today,” the Senator said.

Economy

Taiwan attractive to foreign investors

Sixty-six foreign companies

expressed the willingness to invest a total of US$5.3 billion over the next three years in Taiwan. The Ministry of Economic Affairs signed letters of intent worth US$ 3.3 billion with 20 of the companies. Taiwan’s focus on five innovative industries – green energy, an Asian Silicon Valley, biomedicine, smart machinery, defense and aeronautics – attracted the interest from foreign companies.

Of the pledged investments, 60 percent is directed to mentioned five innovative industries. Most of the foreign companies are from the United States (22), Europe (20) and Japan (18).

Tourism

Taipei 15^th most popular city for visitors in 2016

Taipei was ranked the 15^th most popular city on the 2016 Mastercard Global Destinations Cities Index, trailing Milan (14), Amsterdam (13) and Barcelona (12). The index provides a ranking of the 132 most visited cities around the world, breaking them into five regions: Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa, and North America. The top-three cities on the list are Bangkok (1), London (2) and Paris (3).

Old Dutch Fort in Tamsui reopens after restoration

The landmark in New Taipei City’s Tamsui District, also known as Fort Antonio, reopens in September after it was closed for renovation in January last year as widespread repairs were needed.

The restoration team has worked to ensure that the paint on the exterior walls resembled the one used by the Dutch builders, which turned out to be a challenge.

Fort San Domingo was established in 1629 by Spanish forces occupying northern Taiwan. The Dutch rebuilt the fort after they had ousted the Spanish from northern Taiwan, completing reconstruction in 1646, when the installation was renamed Fort Antonio.

As the locals at that time called the Dutch “the red-haired people,” the fort was called the “ the red-hairs fort.” It was renovated three times, including the latest one.