TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Department of Investment Review at the Ministry of Economic Affairs reported Wednesday (Dec. 20) that the number of approved overseas Chinese and foreign investments decreased by 8.89% to 2,102 cases in the first 11 months of 2023 compared to the same period last year.
However, investment from these sources amounted to US$10.79 billion, approximately NT$323.7 billion, marking the second-highest figure for the period in the past 15 years, only trailing 2022 by 13.04%.
Significant contributions to this investment uptick came from the offshore wind power sector, with major boosts from French company TotalEnergies Renewables SAS and British firm OSW Investments Taiwan JVCO 2 Limited, which both increased their capital in Haiding Two International Investment Co., Ltd. by NT$5.03 billion.
Additionally, data showed that new companies established in the period amounted to 1,124 cases, with an investment value of US$680 million or NT$20.37 billion.
Investments from Southeast Asian countries increased notably. There were 609 cases from these nations, a 41.3% year-on-year increase, with a monetary surge of 25.2% to US$2.52 billion, roughly NT$75.68 billion, mainly from Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Chinese investments in Taiwan saw a decline. There were only 24 approved cases, a 45.45% decrease from the previous year, with investment figures dropping by 21.65% to US$27.38 million, about NT$820 million.
Overseas investments from Taiwan told a different story, with a moderate increase in approved cases by 2.44% to 504 and an investment total of US$22.81 billion, a substantial annual increase of 145.61%, translating to NT$684.42 billion.
Key overseas investments included a US$8 billion capital injection by TSMC into its Arizona subsidiary and a €3.5 billion investment in Germany's ESMC GmbH.
Major contributions also came from Foxconn Technology Group, which invested US$8 billion in its Singapore subsidiary, and Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp.'s similar investment in Singapore-based Yang Ming (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.