Businesses optimistic about revival of Taipei’s ‘East District’ shopping area

Businesses optimistic about revival of Taipei’s ‘East District’ shopping area

2022-08-22

A revival could be around the corner at Taipei’s “East District.” Once a shopping mecca, the shopping area has lost much foot traffic in recent years, causing rents to plummet to as low as NT$5,000 to NT$8,000 per ping. But it seems that hope is on the horizon, as a drink shop recently announced it had rented a commercial space on Zhongxiao East Road for NT$11,200 per ping.

The glory days of the area came to an end with a drop in tourist numbers, the migration of businesses to Xinyi District, and the rise of online shopping. Now that COVID is easing, shops are returning to the area, and renovation work can be seen all over the place as optimistic businesses set up their new storefronts. That’s a huge contrast from the empty streets and vacant spaces of the past few months.

忠孝東路店面每坪1.12萬商圈復甦露出曙光

2022-08-22

台北東區的景氣谷底已經過去了嗎？根據最新的實價登錄，今年6月有飲料業者以每坪1.12萬元，租下忠孝東路一處店面，這也是時隔3年，單坪租金破萬元的紀錄，目前東區的空租率逐漸降低，不少店面都正在裝潢趕工當中。

受到觀光客縮減、商圈移轉信義區，以及電商侵蝕零售小型市場的影響，東區店租近年來大幅下修，目前單坪租金落在5至8千元，所幸疫情逐漸趨緩，人潮回流，東區和幾個月前滿是招租中的空店面相比，截然不同，商圈復甦，露出一絲曙光。

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DPP Taoyuan mayoral candidate Cheng Yun-peng announces campaign team and policies

DPP lawmaker Cheng Yun-peng has taken over from Lin Chih-chien as the party’s candidate for Taoyuan mayor. He held a press conference Monday to announce key members of his campaign, as well as some key policies of his platform. Cheng and his team even had a bit of fun with the event, kicking it off with a little skit.

After a short skit simulating voting in the referendum to lower the country’s voting age, DPP Taoyuan mayoral candidate Cheng Yun-peng announces his campaign team. DPP Deputy Secretary-General Lin Fei-fan will serve as convener for Cheng’s political platform, and DPP Legislator Huang Shih-chieh will serve as director general of his campaign office.

Cheng Yun-peng
DPP Taoyuan mayoral candidate
Huang is a good friend of mine from the Legislative Yuan. Although he’s newly established, he has a wealth of experience. We will cooperate in the same way we do in the legislative caucus – like twin engines. As for Lin, he’s lived in Taoyuan for two years now. He works at the party headquarters in the day, and then comes home to Taoyuan at night. This is the typical Northern Taiwan lifestyle of commuting. So, he’s quite familiar with Taoyuan.

Huang Shih-chieh
Campaign office director general
Cheng is quick-witted, and he can come up with innovative solutions to the city’s problems. He’s a person who gets things done.

Lin Fei-fan
Campaign platform convener
Lots of investment is coming into Taoyuan. Investment from returning overseas businesspeople and international corporations is at an all-time high, so we need comprehensive policies. Especially important will be how to take care of young parents, young families.

Aside from announcing campaign team members, Cheng on Monday also announced key policies of his platform. He vowed to build on the efforts of incumbent Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan, focusing on youth employment and the labor shortage.

Cheng Yun-peng
DPP Taoyuan mayoral candidate
Youth who find work through the city’s job bank and are stably employed for half a year can receive an award of NT$25,000. If you work in an industry with a labor shortage for a year you can be awarded NT$30,000. If you receive class A and B professional certification, you can receive NT$9,000 and NT$21,000 for the certificates, respectively. So, in total you can be awarded up NT$85,000.

Cheng said he is also planning a policy aimed at helping disadvantaged households get effective access to funding information, which will be provided proactively by job banks.

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Education ministry eases COVID measures at schools

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Film series celebrates the scientific and technological innovations of Taiwan

A new film series highlights Taiwan’s high tech contributions to the world. The videos aim to educate children and adults on the scientific and technological advances in Taiwan. Whether you’re interested in climate change, space travel, or healthcare, the “Smart Heart Taiwan” series will help you brush up your tech knowledge. It will show in theaters across the country from late September.

At rush hour, every journey on a bike, car or bus is made possible by technology. Humans have developed all kinds of technological innovations. Now the National Science and Technology Council has made these films to highlight Taiwanese science in relation to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. They aim to inspire more young innovators across the country.

Yeh Chih-cheng
National Science and Technology Council
We made a series of films on popular science-related things, including about transportation and disaster prevention. Our premiere today was the first three films, so we hope they will inspire students and encourage them to go into scientific industries.

The humble silicon chip is a vital component in tech for everything from extreme climate emergencies to the pandemic, wars, transport and space exploration. Technology is changing our daily lives, but it’s also a big part of international political rivalry. The Smart Heart Taiwan series focuses on six themes: aerospace, disaster prevention, finance, healthcare, transport and sustainability. The films bring high tech topics to life in an accessible way for all audiences, inspiring children and adults alike with the achievements of Taiwan’s scientists.

Wen Ming-chang
Development team CEO
The experts helped us to find simple language, with supports like animated special effects, so the new generation can understand better the technical prowess of Taiwan in the world, which we can be immensely proud of. We will broadcast the film across Taiwan and abroad, to make Taiwan more visible globally.

Technology advances almost too fast to keep up. Whether you’re interested in climate change or lifestyle changes, with these films you can easily catch up on all the latest scientific advances in Taiwan.

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Market for camping gear booming as Taiwan takes to the great outdoors

Camping is the latest global trend to take Taiwan by storm. Since COVID hit, spending a vacation under the starry sky is more attractive than ever. But for lots of people, managing the logistics is a real challenge. Should you go with a tent? What about an awning to attach to your vehicle? Some people invest in campervans, or even fully-fledged caravans. We take a look at the options.

Pull up on the grass under the shade of a tree. Let the ladder down and set up the awning, and in no time at all, your new home is ready. With this campervan, you can escape the city and cool off in the mountains.

Yeh Wei-hsiang
FTV reporter
It takes less than two minutes to set up a campervan awning like this one. There are sleeping bags and an electric fan in the van.

The tent above the van is for sleeping in. For your kitchen and living room, look no further than the boot of the van. Table and chairs, a cooking stove – it’s all here. Camping has really taken off in Taiwan in the last two years, and businesses are catching up.

E-ONE
Camping accessories industry
The pandemic is easing, and it’s summer. In Taiwan, it is usually very cool if you head up to high altitudes in the evening. So because of that, camping is getting very popular. Our profits have risen accordingly by about 10% to 20%.

Member of public
My friend has started it recently, they also just got into it. A campervan awning is better – it’s faster and more convenient.

A tent is the classic camping kit. But caravans and campervans are all the rage now. One popular choice is a caravan or trailer imported from abroad. They have full bathroom facilities inside. It’s like a tiny hotel on wheels. One of these can cost NT$3 million. Other people take a van and remodel it into a campervan. But refitting the vehicle will set you back NT$1 million at least. Then there are awnings. They can be fitted to any kind of vehicle, and with all the accessories included, you won’t spend more than NT$100,000. That’s the most economical option.

E-ONE
Camping accessories industry
It doesn’t take a lot to get into it. You only need to spend NT$100,000 or NT$150,000. The other thing is it doesn’t matter much what make your car is. Almost 80% of the vehicles in Taiwan are suitable. In the north, you could go to Jinshan or Sanxia districts. If you’re going further south, you can think about Jianshi or Wufeng townships in Hsinchu or Tai’an Township in Miaoli.

As camping continues to gain popularity, the market for camping gear is booming. If you’d like to get into camping on a budget, starting with a car and a tent is the first choice.

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Grouper and beltfish are stars of the show in Mid-Autumn seafood meal set

Su’ao Fishermen’s Association has launched a Mid-autumn seafood meal set that you can enjoy at home, featuring six types of Taiwanese seafood. Besides the ever-popular squid, shrimp and tuna, this year, the meal sets also feature grouper and beltfish, which China has an import ban on. The association says it hopes the dishes can allow the Taiwanese public to get a taste of Taiwan’s fresh seafood while supporting local industry.

Tuna belly is sliced, showing off the lustrous meat inside. It goes in the pan with a little oil until it starts to sizzle.

The chunks become golden brown, and a delicious scent fills the air. The fish is tender, with a delicate flavor. And it’s not the only mouthwatering aroma.

Fresh swordtip squid are tossed about in the pan until golden. Then the aromatics go in: spring onions, garlic, chili and ginger. It’s a tasty and eye-catching assortment. But if we’re talking about appetizing foods, how about this beltfish roulade.

Member of public
It’s so fresh and delicate.

These treasures from the sea can all be tasted in a Mid-Autumn Festival meal packet launched by the fishermen’s association at Yilan’s Su’ao Township. It contains six different types of seafood including swordtip squid, whiteleg shrimp and beltfish. This year the limited-edition meals also feature bluefin tuna and a hybrid grouper. Only 1,500 sets are available for preorder.

Tsai Yuan-lung
Su’ao Fishermen’s Association
This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival meal packets are all made with Taiwanese seafood, including grouper, beltfish and swordtip squid. The fish featured are different from before.

China’s sudden import ban on several Taiwanese fish products prompted a Su-ao fishermen’s association to team up with aquaculturists in Southern Taiwan to create these meal sets showcasing Taiwan’s marine delicacies. They hope the meals will sell well ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Chen Chun-sheng
Su’ao Fishermen’s Association
They’ve helped us promote our products in the south before. So now the fish industries of the north and south are teaming up. We hope to sell our Taiwanese fish products in the local market, so that Taiwanese can taste the freshest catch we have.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner. If you’re looking for a change of pace from the usual barbeques, why not try a taste of the sea? These marine delicacies are sure to be a hit.

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20 Taiwanese investors in Cambodian real estate project yet to receive units

Reports of Taiwanese people falling for human trafficking scams in Cambodia have recently captured headlines in Taiwan. But that is not the only source of tensions between the two countries in recent days. Up to 20 Taiwanese buyers have been affected by a real estate investment dispute in the Southeast Asian country. The buyers had purchased 30 units at a luxury development in Cambodia’s capital, giving millions to the land developer. The building complex was scheduled to be finished in 2023, but as of August, the construction site remains empty.

Back in 2016, Cambodia’s Royal Group announced a landmark twin-building project in Phnom Penh, called “The Royal One.”

The project comprised two high-rises 62 floors tall, offering 533 units. It was set to be the tallest building in the capital, affording stunning views over the Mekong River. Many Taiwanese firms invested in the project, which ended up coming to nothing.

Taiwanese businessperson in Cambodia
Royal Group has been dubbed Cambodia’s richest conglomerate. But notoriety brings scrutiny. I think it was because of political reasons, but in late 2019, a raid was conducted at a nightclub related to the group. They found a huge amount of drugs. So the conglomerate was investigated, and more than 300 people were arrested. With the upper ranks all taken away, the group had its days counted.

A Taiwanese businessperson in Cambodia says Royal One fell from grace after it was exposed by the government. Back in 2016, the group’s vice chairman Kith Thieng had traveled to Taiwan to sign a sales contract with a local real estate agency. The project’s groundbreaking ceremony was held in 2019, with completion scheduled for 2023. But as of Aug. 18 this year, the construction site remains empty.

Reports say about 20 Taiwanese buyers have been affected. They had purchased a total of 30 units, to the tune of about NT$7.5 million per unit. They had paid down payments, contract fees and about 31% of the total cost of the units to the developer. But now that the project is delayed, the Cambodian developers and Taiwanese sales agents are engaging in a complicated transnational legal battle.

Huang Po-jung
Lawyer
If the Taiwan agent has already engaged in the deal and shared profits it could be considered an accomplice in the case and could have to bear criminal responsibility in accordance with the Banking Act of the Republic of China.

And property disputes are not the only source of tensions between Cambodia and Taiwan. According to Minister of the Interior Hsu Kuo-yung, about 370 Taiwanese are stuck in Cambodia after falling victim to human trafficking scams. Amid suggestions that Taiwan’s government should pay ransoms to rescue the victims, Hsu says that doing so would just be a temporary solution that wouldn’t actually solve the problem.

Hsu Kuo-yung
Minister of the interior
Our nation’s position and our government’s position on the matter is just like that of any other country in the world. We will not pay ransoms. We cannot negotiate with criminals like that. Otherwise, these kinds of cases will never stop arising.

The minister said Taiwan would not negotiate with criminals, saying that money would not solve the problem. He added that Taiwan would continue cooperating with other countries to find solutions. The real estate dispute is just another layer of complexity to an already complicated situation.

2022-08-22