European Chamber of Commerce Taipei SME Centre Launch

March 26, 2008

The ECCT today launched their SME Centre and its website http://sme-centre.ecct.com.tw. The SME Centre will champion their members’ business in Taiwan and is a unique platform for SMEs to network and build “guan xi” with the Taiwanese government, Taiwanese business associations and other foreign owned and managed SMEs.

Enspyre President Elias Ek who is Co-Chairman of the SME Centre told the invited guests of over 100 people that the Centre is for:
• Foreigners who runs an SME in Taiwan
• Managers of a local branch offices of a foreign companies
• Owners or Managers of companies that have specific services or products catering to SMEs

Mr. Ek said that “I have never been a member of any Chamber of Commerce before, but I am very happy that I have joined the ECCT SME Centre. Via the events I have had a chance to connect with trade associations representing thousands of potential clients, I have received free consulting help from a top-rated consultant and I have been invited to join a national speaker tour. Not to mention I have met a lot of fellow SME leaders. I feel I am now able to connect to the Taiwanese market and society in ways I have never thought possible before during 8 years doing business in Taiwan.

As co-director of the SME Centre of course I am partial, but I would suggest everyone to join up."

SME Centre Resource
Website: http://sme-centre.ecct.com.tw
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to questions frequently asked by foreigners doing business in Taiwan, like these:
• Is a foreign entrepreneur who registers a company in Taiwan required by law to have a local partner?
• According to the law, can a foreigner sign up for a credit card?
• Where can I purchase www.mycompanyname.com.tw?
• Can I set up my company's head office anywhere? At home, for instance?
• Can my English/German/French/… computer support traditional Chinese?
Find answer to these and many more at the SME Centre Website.

Important Contacts
Doing business is never easy but if one has to deal with language issues or people who are unused to dealing with foreigners, it’s double hard. The SME Centre is therefore assembling a growing number of resources with English-speaking contacts, here are a few examples:

• Do you need to hire new employees and could use some help posting the job description on the Internet? Call Michelle at 1111 Job Bank, she can help.
• Are you a foreigner and need a credit card, trading finance or other banking services, call Sam at HSBC.
• Do you need an English-speaking accountant used to dealing with foreigners? Call Ann at Universal CPA.
• Find these and many more at the SME Centre Website.

ECCT SME Centre Membership benefits:

• Attend the many SME Centre events to gain knowledge from qualified professionals and network with fellow SMEs and other stakeholders
• Have your company profile appear on the SME Centre website member directory as well as printed in the official ECCT Membership Directory Book
• Attend the ECCT Monthly Luncheons where you have the chance to meet our 350 other members like HSBC, ING, Tatung, UBS, Deutsche Bank, Nestle, Carrefour, and Acer as well as EU business leaders and embassies.
• Invitation to luncheons and Dinner meeting with political leaders of Minister levels and prominent business leaders, that includes,
  • Roundtable Meeting, 2 times a year
  • Government Visit, 2 times a year
  • Special luncheon/presentation by special speaker, non periodically
  • Professional Workshop, 2 times a year (latest tax/ regulation update)
• One year subscription to our bi-monthly business magazine EUROVIEW
• Assistance watching for business opportunities
• Participation in writing the annual Position Paper which ECCT distributes to the Taiwanese government. This is your chance to make your voice heard.

Activities to date:
T the SME Centre has arranged a number of events with topics like Internet marketing, branding, logistical solutions, accounting, HR and ARC related legal issues. The SME Centre members has also had the chance to meet and get to know these prominent leaders:

• Dr. Robert Lai, Director of Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Small and Medium Enterprise Association, www.moeasmea.gov.tw
• Dr. Yi-yuan Yueh, General Director for the very influential Institute for Information Industry, www.iii.org.tw
• Mr. Cliff Hsu, Assistant Director of the National Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, www.nasme.org.tw
• Plus many of their colleagues and other important Taiwanese organizations.
  

How to sign up?
You can download the member application from the website (http://sme-centre.ecct.com.tw) or pick one up at any of the SME Centre events. If you have any questions, please call 02-2740-0236.