President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) jointly attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 Taipei Electrical Appliances Expo (TEAE) on Friday. Organizer Taipei Electrical Commercial Association (TECA) is expecting 200,000 visitors to the expo and NT$2 billion (US$62.6 million) in business opportunities.
In his speech, TECA Chairman Liao Chuan-ping (廖全平) took the initiative to mention that President Tsai visited the National Penghu University of Science & Technology a few days ago and heard that some students reported difficulties replacing old appliances in rural and disadvantaged homes. He promised on the spot that he would invite various home appliance brands to assist with special projects to help those people replace their old machines and reduce their carbon emissions.
Chen said in his speech that the International Energy Agency's World Energy Outlook 2023 Analysis states that although some economies have slowed down due to the energy development crisis, as economies recover, electricity demand is expected to rise. He added that therefore, with environmental protection in mind, the electrical appliance industry should be encouraged to actively develop more efficient and energy-saving products. With the public encouraged to replace old appliances with more efficient appliances, everyone can work together to achieve energy conservation and carbon reduction.
The president reminded the public that if you purchase a first-class energy-efficiency refrigerator or air conditioner to replace an old appliance, you can enjoy a government subsidy of NT$3,000 (US$94), as well as policy subsidies such as an excise tax exemption of up to NT$2,000 (US$63).