Purpose:
In order to enhance the bilateral trading relations between Taiwan and Portugal, CIECA will be hosting the 4th Taiwan-Portugal Joint Business Council at 14:00 on November 21st 2016. The main themes of this meeting encompasses “Taiwan’s Economic and Trading Trends,” “Investments and Industry Opportunities in Portugal,” “Portuguese Wines,” “Portuguese Frozen Foods,” and “Educational Collaboration.”

Details:
I. Current Economic and Trading Overview of Portugal:
1. Macro-environment: After the economic downturn in 2008, Portugal’s economy has picked up since 2014. Currently the unemployment rate has lowered to less than 11%, and the Portuguese government has been rolling out various incentives for foreign investors in various industries such as biotech, electronics, ICT etc.

2. Advantages for investment:
(1) Labor: the minimum wage is 530 Euros, with at least 61% of the workforce capable of speaking at least 1 foreign language.

(2) EU Member: in comparison to Eastern European countries, Portugal enjoys a 30-year-history of cooperating with various EU members due to geographical and historical reasons, making its market relatively open to investments.

(3) Portuguese-speaking country: Due to historical reasons and membership in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), Portugal enjoys a special position in terms of being a strategic partner to enter such markets as Angola, Brazil, Mozambique, and Sao Tome e Principe.

(4) The World Bank has ranked Portugal as the 23rd easiest place to conduct business worldwide in 2016.

II. Dr. Paulo Nunes de Almeida, President of the Portuguese Entrepreneurs’ Association (AEP), will be leading a delegation whose members include the wine, frozen foods, and educational investment industries.

III. The 4th Taiwan-Portugal Joint Business Council

Co-Chaired by:
Dr. Chien, Han-sun, Vice Chairman, CIECA
Dr. Paulo Nunes de Almeida, President, AEP

Time: 14:00-17:00, Monday, November 21st 2016

Venue: B1, East Gate, Shangri-La’s Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Taipei

Speeches: “Taiwanese Economic Trends,” “Investing in Portugal,” “Strategies to Promote Portuguese Wines in the Taiwanese Market,” “The Beauty of Portuguese Wines.”

IV. The meeting will be conducted in English. Please find attached an Agenda and Registration Form for the meeting, which shall be returned either by Fax or e-Mail no later than Wednesday, November 16th , to the following fax: +886 (0)2 2742-5342 Attn: Ms. Chien, or email: Christiana.Chien@CIECA.Org.TW

For more information, please call: +886 (0)2 2528-8833 #26