Taiwan

Says it would cut weak profits in an unfavorable economic environment.

According to ADB's recent news release showing that a gap of some USD 425 billion between importers and exporters among developing countries is to be facilitated in 2011.

Two days before the Singapore's announcement, financial institutions in Taiwan formally launched their RMB business after signing currency clearing agreements with Bank of China's Taipei branch.

Test run of direct trading at banks currently ongoing.

China said talks with Taiwan should produce “good results”.

RMB payments surged 120% over the last six months.

Taiwan’s 53 domestic banking units began trading only last February 6.

During Chinese New Year, I visited a friend working for the Exim Bank of Taiwan (EBT), the only export credit agency(ECA) in Taiwan set up in 1979, I was advised with joy that business turnover of the Bank has passed TWD90billion (aroundUSD3 billion) in 2012 and will be easily over TWD100billion (around USD3.33 billion)this year. He is so happy because the growth rate is almost ten folds compared to ten years ago . However, knowing that total turnover of Sinosure, EBT's counterpart in China set up in 200, was up 35% from previous year to USD293.6billion in 2012 and the percentage of export coverage for China is more than 10% while EBT's % of coverage is less than 1% during the same period, he has to admit that EBT has plenty room to improve. From study, I found out that the difference between the two institutions is the marketing strategy. EBT is selling policy without financing but Sinosure is selling through banks which are providing trade finance. Similar practice was experienced by Coface in China through its strategic partner, Pin-An Insurance, to support banks' clients to obtain trade finance. Other private credit insurance companies such as Euler-Hermes, Atradius, and Chartis...etc. are also growing and compete seriously with each other since financial crisis in 2008. The product is formally available only for large enterprises but many banks are using it to support supplying chain finance, factoring, and invoice discount..etc. for SMEs clients recently.

Taiwan Financial aims to accelerate its Asia-Pacific expansion and increase profit from overseas operations.

Fubon Financial credits its wealth management products for its net income of NT$4.04 billion last month.

That's only a day after domestic banks became eligible to offer RMB-related services.

Taiwan will be the second location after Hong Kong to sell renminbi-denominated bonds.

Ostensibly, the country's GDP per capita remains little change in the past twenty years and the banking industry hasn't change much either. It is difficult to envisage the future development of Taiwanese financial industry with hope. However, all banks are crazy for setting up branches , subsidiaries, or even leasing companies entering China market since 2012. It is an exchange term for allowing Bank of China and Bank of Communications to open branch in Taiwan. Among the targets of market in China are local Taiwanese companies ,joint ventures, and state-owned companies, especially to those companies moving to China in the past twenty years with direct financial support.

Central bank finalizing preparations for start of renminbi operations.

The Taipei branch of Bank of China will serve as a clearing bank for renminbi transactions in Taiwan.

Asia Development Bank(ADB)'s latest news shows that its Trade Facilitation Program ( TFP) will increase trade volume of USD 1.2 billion among some difficult member countries due to the cooperation with OFID. It will stick to the traditional LC or banks' guarantee as trade facilitation tools to assist SMEs in emerging countries . Trade Facilitation Program , a product using LC and guarantee to promoting trade among commercial banks, was initiated by European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)whose mission is to assist its 29 member countries to quickly develop their economies in order to not falling back to communism after the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991.