TAIPEI
TAIPEI
MAKE WAY FOR TAIPEI Improved air links and a more open approach to overseas trade are helping this Asian Tiger roar ever louder, says Jenny Southan
58 | DECEMBER2010-JANUARY2011
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robert harding/jenny southan
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orge your way through the heaving aisles of Shilin night market, where skimpy maid outfits and fake Converse trainers sit alongside exotic fruit and stinky tofu, and you’ll get a good sense of what life on the ground is like in Taipei. With its glowing neon signs and caterwauling street sellers, you could be forgiven for thinking you were in any number of Asian cities, but don’t be fooled – Taiwan’s capital is unique. Much has happened in recent years to bring it into the 21st century. Xinyi District in the east has emerged as a high-powered business centre, marked by the 2004 opening of Taipei 101, the world’s tallest skyscraper until Dubai’s Burj Khalifa was unveiled last January. A Taiwan Tourism Bureau spokesperson says:“Taipei’s movement towards sophistication and internationalisation began speeding up in the 1990s, and the city has smoothly transformed into a major metropolis. Skyscrapers and high-end residences have sprung up everywhere and the infrastructure has improved rapidly, with railroads being put underground and a mass rapid system added to the transportation network.” Still, Taiwan perhaps remains better known for its conflicted relations with China. The island state, known officially as the Republic of China (ROC), is separated from the mainland by the 160km-wide Taiwan Strait but for decades has also been cut off from the rest of the world both politically and economically. From 1895 to 1945 it was ruled by the Japanese, who relinquished it at the end of the Second World War to the Kuomintang (KMT), the ruling party of the ROC. But the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which forced the ROC to retreat to Taiwan from the mainland in 1949 after the Chinese Civil War, also argues for the right to sovereignty. Travel and trade between the two have therefore been restricted for many years, and only now are relations beginning to improve. In June, Taiwan signed a pact with China, the most significant act of reconciliation since the split. The Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement saw the lifting or reducing of tariffs on 539 Taiwanese
mechanical tools, equipment, been seen as cheap but now with the chemical materials, automotive right marketing are up there with the components and agricultural leaders – for example, HTC launched products, as well as on 267 Chinese its phones from London and sees goods. About US$14 billion worth of itself as an international company. Taiwanese goods and US$3 billion of Acer is a sponsor of London 2012.” Chinese products will benefit from He adds:“We promote British the cuts. At the same time, Taiwanese products and excellence in particular carrier Eva Air added six flights a sectors – for example, we had a rail week between Taipei and Shanghai. mission come to Taiwan led by the The country has seen sustained Railway Industry Association, so we economic growth since the 1960s, were able to go into government thanks mainly to its huge success as departments to lobby on behalf of a manufacturing hub for electronics British companies bidding for rail and other consumer goods. Unlike projects in Taiwan. We have also had the communist mainland, it enjoys an exhibition come twice to Taiwan a capitalist economy that thrives on called ‘Love and Money – 50 Years of the export of these products – about Creative Britain’. Couple Taiwanese 70 per cent of its GDP is created this electronic consumer products way and it is estimated that about with British design and you have two out of every three laptops, more something that is highly desirable.” than two-thirds of LCD monitors The island nation is also looking and four-fifths of PCs are produced to the UK for guidance on the here, despite it being one-seventh of environment. Metti says:“We have the size of the UK in terms of land been working with Taiwan on mass. Thanks to former KMT leader climate issues, providing expertise Chiang Kai-shek, who transferred and knowledge on how to reduce much of China’s gold reserves to the its carbon footprint. I think climate island during his takeover, it also has management is something the UK the world’s fourthcan help with as largest foreign wasn’t a ‘The city has smoothly Taiwan exchange reserves. signatory to the One country that transformed into a Kyoto agreement has been thirsty for and only went to major metropolis’ Taiwanese goods Copenhagen as is the UK – it an observer, but imported £2.96 billion worth in 2009 this is no reason for it not to participate – and several measures have recently in reducing its carbon footprint.” been taken to enhance relations With this increased emphasis on between them. In March 2009, the UK cultural and commercial exchange started to allow Taiwanese passport between the countries, what’s it like holders entry for trips of up to six to do business in Taipei these days? months without a visa and, a year later, Metti, who is from the UK but has Taiwanese flag carrier China Airlines lived in Taipei for about two years, became the first to launch nonstop says:“If you look around, you still flights between Taipei and the UK. don’t see many Westerners here – The thrice-weekly service is operated tourists tend to be Taiwanese, Chinese by a two-class A340-300 and gets into or Japanese – so the most important London at about 1600 on Tuesdays, thing is to prepare for your trip. Thursdays and Sundays, departing for Taiwan is unique – if someone has Taipei later in the evening. (For flight been to China, Hong Kong, Japan or reviews see businesstraveller.com/ Korea they will know those markets, tried-and-tested.) but Taiwan is different again. Carry Stephen Metti, head of trade and out market research.”(The British investment for the British Trade Trade and Cultural Office can help and Cultural Office in Taipei, is with this, as well as arrange itineraries keen to promote ties between the and identify contacts.) two countries, particularly in the He says:“It’s all about building creative industries.“Designing more relationships – it’s important to make attractive consumer goods means the contacts but also to maintain more people will buy them,”he says. them, making sure you come across “Some [Taiwanese] brands have as a credible person who is willing to Visit businesstraveller.com
Taipei 101
Longshan temple DECEMBER2010-JANUARY2011 | 59