TW Biz News｜WK 09/15 - 09/21

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

---

• 〔Taiwan News〕FamilyMart to open 100 new stores in Taiwan this year

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan FamilyMart Co. Chair Yeh Jung-ting (葉榮廷) said the company will open 100 new stores in Taiwan this year as part of its initiative to reach 5,000 branches nationwide within the next four years. FamilyMart completed renovations of all its stores across Taiwan in the first half of the year. The company operates around 4,400 stores nationwide and added approximately 80 new locations last year, per CNA. Looking ahead, it plans to open about 150 new stores annually.

• 〔Taiwan News〕Central Taiwan woos Thai tourists

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Central Taiwan is looking to expand into the Thai tourism market. Taichung City and Nantou and Changhua counties partnered with STARLUX Airlines to host 25 leading Thai travel agencies from Sept. 8–12, according to Taichung’s Tourism and Travel Bureau. The group spent two days in central Taiwan, visiting natural attractions in Nantou and historical sites in Changhua.

• 〔Taiwan News〕Apple weighs Taiwan pilot line for foldable iPhone

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Apple is considering building a test production line for a foldable iPhone in Taiwan, with mass production in India targeted for 2026, Nikkei Asia reported Thursday. Sources familiar with the matter said the US tech giant hopes the long-awaited foldable model will lift overall iPhone shipments by 10% next year, as Apple seeks to diversify away from China amid mounting US-China tensions.

• 〔Focus Taiwan〕Taiwan Expo opens in the Philippines; US$50m in business deals expected

Manila, Sept. 17 (CNA) A Taiwan trade fair opened in the Philippines on Wednesday, with the organizers setting their sights on US$50 million in business opportunities. The Taiwan Expo, organized by the International Trade Administration and the government-sponsored Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), has drawn the participation of more than 140 Taiwanese enterprises, TAITRA said. It is being held over three days under the themes of "Green & Sustainability," "Agritech & Aquatech," "Health & Wellness," "Smart Technology," and "Intelligent Lifestyle," according to the organizers.

• 〔Focus Taiwan〕Nomura launches cross-border ETF listings in Taiwan, Japan

Taipei, Sept. 18 (CNA) Nomura Asset Management Co. on Thursday launched the first cross-border exchange-traded fund (ETF) listings in Taiwan and Japan, in line with efforts by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) to turn Taiwan into a regional asset management hub. At a ceremony in Taipei, Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE) Chairman Sherman Lin (林修銘) said the move marked a milestone in international cooperation for the country's capital market. In Japan, TWSE President Li Ai-ling (李愛玲) attended the ceremony at the Tokyo Stock Exchange.