TW Biz News｜WK 04/28 - 05/04

Every week, we'll select Taiwan's five business news from the previous week for your review.

---

• 〔Focus Taiwan〕Taiwan remains No. 1 semiconductor material buyer in 2024

Taipei, April 29 (CNA) Taiwan remained the largest buyer of semiconductor production materials for the 15th consecutive year in 2024, with a total procurement amount of US$20.1 billion, according to the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials Institute (SEMI). Global semiconductor material spending grew by 3.8 percent from a year earlier to US$67.5 billion in 2024, the United States-based SEMI said in a report issued Monday. Following Taiwan in materials procured was China, which spent US$13.5 billion on semiconductor production materials in 2024, and South Korea with US$10.5 billion in purchases, the report said.

• 〔Focus Taiwan〕Over 30 titles by Taiwanese artists featured at Italian comic festival

Taipei, May 4 (CNA) The 2025 Napoli Comicon in Italy features over 30 Taiwanese comic books, along with a live drawing and signing event by two Taiwanese artists, attracting comic book fans to the Taiwan Pavilion for a taste of Taiwanese art. The showcase was a joint effort by the Cultural Division of the Taipei Representative Office (TRO) in Italy and Locus Publishing, the Ministry of Culture (MOC) said in a recent statement.

• 〔Taiwan News〕Taiwan's entertainment tax revenue from performances exceeded NT$280 million last year

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Finance said Monday that Taiwan's entertainment tax revenue from performances reached NT$286 million (US$ 9.08 million) last year. The number of entertainment tax filings from performances was 2.2 times higher last year than in 2021, with tax revenue rising more than sixfold. The ministry attributed the surge to a wave of large-scale concerts held by artists following the COVID-19 pandemic, per CNA.

• 〔Taiwan News〕Taiwan economics ministry approves six investment cases

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The economic ministry’s Department of Investment Review approved six major investment cases on Tuesday, including ASML and Sumitomo Corporation. According to the ministry, ASML’s NT$2.62 billion (US$81.96 million) in funding will support the installation, sales, and maintenance of semiconductor laser light source equipment and components, per CNA. Sumitomo, with its NT$2.27 billion injection, will expand import, export, and sales of semiconductor and electronic component materials, per Liberty Times.

• 〔Taipei Times〕Taiwan climbs to 24th in World Press Freedom rankings

Taiwan ranked 24th in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) today, climbing three places from the previous year at a time when press freedom declined in most countries. The latest rankings saw Taiwan moving up three spots to 24th out of the 180 countries and regions reviewed by RSF, placing second in the Asia-Pacific and first in East Asia.