Taiwan has received NT$1.2 trillion (about US$35 billion) in investment from Taiwanese businesses bringing their operations back home from overseas. At the annual meeting of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce Wednesday, Vice President William Lai said this money could generate up to 100,000 jobs.
Lai said that Taiwan’s economy is projected to grow 4.64% this year, which makes it the fastest-growing economy among countries with a population of greater than 20 million. This is also the first time in decades that Taiwan’s economic growth has outpaced China’s.
Lai also expressed President Tsai Ing-wen’s thanks to Taiwanese businesspeople for their support during the recent pineapple crisis, during which China issued a sudden ban on imports of Taiwan pineapples. Taiwanese businesses around the world ordered 560 tons of pineapples from Taiwan. Those in countries that don’t import the fruit ordered products made with Taiwanese pineapples instead.