VZCZCXRO2026
RR RUEHGH
DE RUEHIN #0965/01 1210543
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 010543Z MAY 07
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5079
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK 3669
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6698
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 8606
RUEHGP/AMEMBASSY SINGAPORE 6887
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 8719
RUEHML/AMEMBASSY MANILA 0048
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 4073
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 3729
RUEHHI/AMEMBASSY HANOI 3307
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 4507
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 1772
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 7946
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 1029
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0205
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 000965
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PLEASE PASS USTR
STATE FOR EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/EP
USTR FOR ALTBACH and Stratford
USDOC FOR 3132/USFCS/OIO/EAP/WZARIT
TREASURY FOR OASIA/LMOGHTADER
TREASURY ALSO PASS TO FEDERAL RESERVE/BOARD OF
GOVERNORS, SAN FRANCISCO FRB/TERESA CURRAN, AND NEW YORK FRB MARI
BOLIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV EFIN ECON PINR TW
SUBJECT: Taipei Economic Brief for April 2007
1. This cable summarizes selected April 2007 economic events in
Taiwan:
--Domestic Demand to Spur Economic Growth
--Trade Surplus Doubles
--Illegal Cross-Strait Remittance Operations Closed
--ProMOS to Use 0.18-Micron Technology in China
--Personal Bankruptcy Law Concerns Bankers
--Medical Treatment Tourism
--Select Service Partner to Enter Taiwan
--Ambitious Wind Power Program
Domestic Demand to Spur Economic Growth
---------------------------------------
2. On April 19, the Chunghua Institution for Economic Research
(CIER) estimated Taiwan's 2007 real economic growth will slow to
4.17% from 4.6% in 2006 due mainly to weakening global demand for
Taiwan products. The CIER said that the main force behind Taiwan's
2007 economic growth will shift to domestic demand. Expansion of
domestic demand should contribute 57% of Taiwan's real GDP growth in
2007, up from 25% in 2006. The CIER predicted that private
consumption growth in 2007 will increase to 2.8% from 1.5% in 2006.
Meanwhile, domestic investment will reverse from a decline of 0.2%
in 2006 to growth of 1.6% in 2007.
3. Prices remained stable with the consumer price index in Q1
reporting a y-o-y 1% rise although import costs of grains and metals
increased sharply. The average unemployment rate in Q1 of 2007
declined to 3.84% from 3.86% a year ago.
Trade Surplus Doubles
---------------------
4. Taiwan's exports in Q1 grew 8.5% y-o-y to US$54.5 billion, while
its imports rose 3% to US$48.2 billion, causing Taiwan's trade
surplus in Q1 to surge to US$6.3 billion; double a year earlier.
However, Taiwan's trade surplus with the United States in Q1 fell
28% to US$1.6 billion. A sharp rise in grain prices, inter alia,
drove up Taiwan's imports from the United States by 13%, while
increased offshore production of orders caused Taiwan's shipments to
the United States to level off. A decline in international oil
prices from over US$70 per barrel in mid-2006 to US$50 in early 2007
caused Taiwan's imports from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to fall 11%.
Keen competition from China's other production input suppliers
slowed the growth in Taiwan's exports to China to 7% in Q1 from 16%
a year ago. Exports to Greater China (including Hong Kong) seem to
be leveling off, and as a share of Taiwan's total exports slipped
slightly from 39.4% to 38.9%. Vietnam's accession to the WTO in
November 2006 stimulated exports to Vietnam in Q1 to grow 28% and
made Vietnam Taiwan's sixth largest export market, up from tenth a
year earlier.
Cross-Strait Remittance Operations Closed
-----------------------------------------
5. Taiwan's Ministry of Justice Investigation Bureau (MJIB) raided
eight underground cross-Strait remittance operations at 13 locations
across the island. MJIB arrested fourteen individuals who were
charged with violating Taiwan's Banking Law and Anti-Money
Laundering Law. They are alleged to have remitted more than NT$2.1
billion (US$63 million) to China through illegal channels. Several
were PRC nationals who had obtained residency in Taiwan through
marriages or sponsorship by relatives. One operation had an online
service for cross-strait e-remittances. Taiwan's underground
cross-Strait remittance networks are reportedly very active because
the island maintains tight regulations on direct remittance to
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China. MJIB has investigated 43 cases in the last five years,
involving remittances valued at NT$136.2 billion (US$4.1 billion).
ProMOS to Use 0.18-Micron Technology in China
---------------------------------------------
6. On April 19, 2007, ProMOS Technologies Inc. became the second
Taiwan company to receive approval to produce semiconductor chips
with feature size of 0.18 microns in China. Taiwan's Investment
Commission approved Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in
March. Previously, Taiwan firms were limited to using less advanced
0.25-micron technology. TSMC will upgrade its facility near
Shanghai, which has been operational since late 2004. ProMOS
expects its new US$365 million facility near Chengdu will become
operational in 2008.
Personal Bankruptcy Law Concerns Bankers
----------------------------------------
7. In early April, the Legislative Yuan (LY) Judicial Committee
passed the first reading of the draft "Consumer Debt Resolution
Act." Individuals with outstanding unsecured debt below NT$12
million (US$363,600) may apply to the court for resolution and debt
repayment. The bill does not require any credit counseling prior to
a resolution or bankruptcy process. A repayment plan can be
approved by the court without the creditor banks' agreement. A
debtor may apply to the court for resolution after repaying 20% of
his debt. Debtors may continue to own houses. Local and foreign
banks are concerned the law is overly beneficial to debtors. In
response, the Financial Supervisory Commission, the Ministry of
Finance, and the ruling DPP Party have expressed opposition to the
bill.
Medical Treatment Tourism
-------------------------
8. Following Thailand, Singapore, and South Korea, Taiwan has
revised visa regulations to allow "medical treatment tourism" in
Taiwan. A medical treatment visa will allow visa-holders to extend
their stay beyond the current six-month limit on a case-by-case
basis. The Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD)
said Taiwan's medical care sector offers high-quality, inexpensive
services. Medical costs in Taiwan are 60-80% less than in the
United States and Europe. Local hospitals have responded
positively, suggesting that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs allow
longer stays so that patients can complete a full course of
treatment and recovery. The CEPD will urge major international
insurance companies to market products that will permit foreign
nationals to receive medical treatment in Taiwan. The first group
of 19 patients came from Singapore on April 16 for kidney dialysis.
Select Service Partner to Enter Taiwan
--------------------------------------
9. Select Service Partner (SSP) (of Scandinavia) will organize a
joint venture with Haoyun, a local food services vendor, to provide
food and beverage services at airports and urban areas around
Taiwan. SSP is the largest catering vendor for transportation hubs
in Europe. The new venture, called SSP Taiwan, will invest NT$100
million (US$3 million). Each of the two partners will contribute
50% of the capital. SSP Taiwan currently operates a trial food and
beverage operation called Salon de Taipei at the Taiwan World Trade
Center, and plans to start operations at the Taoyuan International
Airport. SSP believes that influx of mainland Chinese tourists
after Taiwan lifts the ban will bring huge trade opportunities in
the catering sector.
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Ambitious Wind Power Program
----------------------------
10. On Earth Day April 22, 2007, 23 wind power generators built by
the state-owned Taiwan Power Company (TPC) in central Taiwan began
commercial operation. Taiwan now has 103 operating wind power
generators whose combined annual electricity output is estimated at
423 million kwh. The TPC claimed that the 103 generators will
prevent Taiwan from releasing 250,000 tons of carbon dioxide
emissions a year because each kwh of power turned out by a generator
burning fossil fuel produces 0.6 kg carbon dioxide. Taiwan will
increase the installed capacity of wind power generators from
168,000 kw at present to 2.16 million kw by 2010. Wind power will
increase its contribution from 0.45% of Taiwan's total installed
capacity to 4.2% over the next three years.
YOUNG