TW Biz News｜WK 12/15 - 12/21

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

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• 〔Taiwan News〕Taiwan commercial real estate bolstered by AI industry

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s commercial real estate market has remained resilient this year, supported by steady demand from the AI industry despite global economic headwinds, according to global real estate advisory firm Savills. Savills said large-scale commercial real estate transaction volume in Taiwan reached NT$150.1 billion (US$4.4 billion) this year, down 8% from a year earlier. However, the figure remains above the 10-year average of NT$130.6 billion, suggesting the market has performed better than expected, per CNA.

• 〔Taiwan News〕Merck's new Kaohsiung site expected to boost Taiwan’s chip packaging supply chain

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Germany-based Merck has opened a new semiconductor materials facility in Kaohsiung, a move analysts say will strengthen Taiwan’s back-end semiconductor supply chain, CTEE reported Wednesday.

• 〔Taiwan News〕Carrefour supermarket name to disappear from Taiwan next year

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Uni-President Enterprises is planning to remove the name Carrefour from the chain’s supermarkets next year, reports said Friday. The board of the company approved the decision for a name change, but a new name still has to be chosen, the Liberty Times reported. Uni-President completed a 100% takeover of Carrefour stores in July 2023, but kept the name on storefronts.

• 〔Taiwan News〕Taiwan celebrates Winter Solstice

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Many people across Taiwan marked the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, by observing traditional folk customs that range from eating glutinous rice balls to crafting symbolic offerings, reflecting the island’s rich cultural diversity. A common practice is eating “tangyuan” (湯圓), glutinous rice balls, believed in folk tradition to bring good fortune and symbolically add a year to one’s life. The rice balls are typically served sweet, though regional variations are common, per CNA.

• 〔Taiwan Plus〕Taiwan Firms Should Invest More Overseas, Say Officials and Industry Leaders

Taiwan should keep investing overseas, according to government officials and industry leaders speaking at an event in Taipei. They emphasized that US tariffs are encouraging more investment in that country but that may actually strengthen Taiwan's global deployment.