Investments in Taiwan Drop 11.25% in 2013

Investments in Taiwan by overseas Taiwanese and international investors came to US$4.933 billion in 2013, a new 3-year low and down 11.25% from the previous year, according to the statistics compiled by the Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).

MOEA officials attributed the decline to the high comparison base of 2012, when two large investment cases were seen during the year, with one by  S.A. C. PEI Taiwan Holdings B.V. totaling NT$14.52 billion (US$484 million), and the other by Synopsys Inc. totaling  NT$12.449 billion (US$414.97 million) for acquiring Springsoft Inc.

In 2013 the Investment Commission approved 3,206 inbound investment cases applied by Taiwanese expats and foreigners, which presented a sizable annual growth of 17.09%.

In the same year investments by mainlanders in Taiwan reached US$360 million for 10% YoY growth, with large cases including the US$78.32 million in Formosa Epitaxy Inc. by San'an Optoelectronics Co.; US$59.4 million by a Hong Kong metal packaging firm to purchase stakes in CMP Investment Ltd., and US$46.85 million by China Construction Bank for setting up a branch here.

In contrast, Taiwan's investors poured US$8.684 billion in China in 2013, down 20.5% from a year earlier for the second consecutive annual drop. (JL)