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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:
Taipei: The Rising Star of the Asia-Pacific
Taipei has emerged as centre for trade, business and investments in the Asia-Pacific region. We profile the magical rise of the city...
Undoubtedly, Taipei is a city on the move. As one of the most modern cities in the Far East, Taipei has earned an enviable reputation as city that is fast emerging as a centre of business and trade in the region. The city has definitive advantages over other cities in the region through its strategic geographical location and its futuristic transportation network.  The Taipei City Government has done an excellent job in developing an excellent network of world-class infrastructure and Taipei residents are known for their high levels of education and skills. Consequently, Taipei has a lot to offer to businesses that choose this city for their business operations.
Credit must go to the Taipei City Government for building a world-class city that not only benefits the citizens, but also creates a healthy and vibrant business environment for domestic and foreign enterpreuners.
The meticulous planning and excellent services available in Taipei are making a positive difference in the future growth of the city. Taipei is now seeing fruitful results. Improvements to infrastructure, including new phases to the Mass Transit Rapid System and plans for a light rail system; unencumbered Government assistance and services to multi-nationals setting up business here; an educated and productive workforce; geographic proximity to all Asia's markets; and a corridor of three high-tech parks within the city, have given Taipei the advantages it needs to compete for international investment and become a focal point for business and trade.
In addition to the many inherent advantages, there are several other reasons that have contributed in making Taipei the modern and futuristic city that it has come to be recognised as.
Firstly, Taipei is located precisely in the centre of the Asia-Pacific region, and is a major hub for air and sea routes in the region. The city is just a short distance from the five major ports of the Asia-Pacific region, and such trips take on average just 53 hours. Taipei is also close to the seven major cities of the region and all major international airlines have numerous flights to and from Taipei to all major regional and international markets.
Given Taipei's outstanding location and convenient transportation and shipping connections, backed by the city's renowned abilities in R&D, it's no surprise that more and more companies are establishing headquarters in Taipei.
By providing a healthy business environment the city of Taipei has successfully attracted many well-known multinational firms to invest and set up bases. Most of these companies use Taipei as a base for manufacturing, logistics and planning, sea and airfreight to explore and penetrate the lucrative Asian markets.
In comparison to other major cities in the  region like Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taipei possesses many advantages like an excellent geographical location, world-class transportation facilities, a pool of useful resources like an educated, skilled and multilingual labour force and good support services for business. All these factors have contributed in making Taipei the premiere Asian operations centre.
On the other hand, since the Chinese language and culture are shared with mainland China, choosing Taipei as a base is not merely beneficial to accessing the huge China market but also brings advantages in terms of cheaper production costs and higher productivity. By choosing Taipei as their regional base of operations many international business have successfully created unlimited opportunities for themselves and enjoyed an edge over their competitors in the world of international business.
Despite such excellent advantages, Taipei has never stopped looking to the future. The city is constantly seeking to improve and implement new industrial policies to further facilitate business. It has always sought to assist traditional industrial sectors and help small- and medium-sized enterprises. Taipei is always on the lookout to attract biotechnology, information, and software enterprises and developing its convention and tourist industries. The city is vociferously promoting improvements in the investment climate by encouraging private sector investments, promoting international exchange, and marketing the city's investment environment to the world. As a result, Taipei's competitiveness is increasing, making Taipei an economically powerful, world-class city that is ready to face the challenges of the future.
Indeed, in today's rapidly changing, highly competitive world, whether in government or private enterprise, resolute and decisive administration are absolutely necessary. Plans must be made and then executed, and in everything there is a race against time. Taipei's long-range, visionary planning and administrative abilities have allowed the city to make the best use of capital, to nurture the best in human resources and abilities, and to bring about miracles in both competitiveness and growth. This dazzling new city, Taipei, stands on the forefront as the best possible choice as a portal to help first-class businesses to move into the lucrative Asian markets.
TAIPEI THROUGH THE AGES:
A RETROSPECTIVE PERSPECTIVE
Regarded as one of Asia's most modern and futuristic cities, Taipei started its long journey as a small settlement around its river banks
The area in which Taipei is located was once a lake that was full of swamps and grassy lowlands, but a lot has changed since. Initially, only aboriginal tribes lived there. The Chinese eventually came to the area for fishing and to  do business. However, soon the number of immigrants to Taipei began to increase and new settlements began to spring around the river banks. It would be absolutely correct to say that Taipei is a city that has developed around a typically river culture. In the beginning stages of its development, Taipei was essentially divided among immigrants from different areas of China which resulted in many conflicts.
Taipei was first built like a rectangle shape with four main walls on the east and west. The city faces from north to south, and its main axis points towards the North Star. Financial agencies were kept in between the walls. The Japanese colonised Taiwan in 1895, and they continued to develop the city. It eventually became the administrative, economic, and cultural centre of Taiwan. Today, the major industries in Taipei are electrical and electronic equipment, textiles, metals, shipbuilding, and motorcycles.
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