TW Biz News｜WK 02/17 - 02/23

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

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• 〔Focus Taiwan〕Over half of German firms optimistic at Taiwan economic outlook: Survey

Taipei, Feb. 20 (CNA) More than 50 percent of German businesses in Taiwan said they were positive about the outlook of the Taiwanese economy, according to an annual survey released by the German Trade Office Taipei. The strong economic growth Taiwan recorded in 2024, and the country's thriving industry sector have "fostered optimism among German companies regarding Taiwan's economic outlook for 2025," the trade office said in a statement released along with the survey report Thursday.

• 〔Focus Taiwan〕Starlux recruits 1st Vietnamese cabin crew amid rising transit demand

Hanoi, Feb. 23 (CNA) Taiwan's Starlux Airlines has recruited its first-ever Vietnamese cabin crew to help enhance the service level for Vietnamese travelers and attract more transit passengers flying between Vietnam and North America. The airline received nearly 700 applications for 150 positions across two recruitment sessions -- one held in Hanoi on Saturday and the other earlier in Ho Chi Minh City.

• 〔Taiwan News〕ASE to expand advanced chip packaging in Kaohsiung

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc. (ASE) CEO Wu Tien-yu (吳田玉) announced Tuesday that the company plans to establish Taiwan’s first large-scale 600x600 fan-out panel-level packaging (FOPLP) production line in Kaohsiung. With an investment of US$200 million (NT$6.55 billion), ASE plans to install equipment in the second quarter and begin trial runs in the third quarter, per CNA. The company will assess yield rates and quality by year-end to determine commercial viability.

• 〔Taiwan News〕Tainan to host international orchid conferences

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Agriculture said Tuesday that Tainan will host the Asia Pacific Orchid Conference and Taiwan International Orchid Show from March 8-23 at the city’s Taiwan Orchid Technology Park. Taiwan Orchid Growers Association Chair Huang Wen-jung (黃文榮) said the APOC will return to Taiwan after 20 years under the theme "Next 20." The event will feature five pavilions, including flower arrangement competitions, business activities, and a marketplace, per CNA.

• 〔Taipei Times〕Lukang ranked top tourist spot, east fails to make list

Changhua County’s Lukang Old Street (鹿港老街) and its surrounding historical area clinched first place among Taiwan’s most successful tourist attractions last year, while no location in eastern Taiwan achieved a spot in the top 20 list, the Tourism Administration said. The listing was created by the Tourism Administration’s Forward-looking Tourism Policy Research office. Last year, the Lukang Old Street and its surrounding area had 17.3 million visitors, more than the 16 million visitors for the Wenhua Road Night Market (文化路夜市) in Chiayi City and 14.5 million visitors at Tainan’s Anping (安平) historical area, it said.