Rapidly improving investment prospects have been few and far between since the global economic crisis hit late last year, but Taiwan has become an unlikely exception recently.
Taiwan's stock market has risen by about 40 per cent this year, making it one of Asia's and the world's best performers this year. And a more than 15 per cent rise in the index since April 30, shows that the international investment community has started to take notice, too.
One private banker says that “many of our clients in the region, including from Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, are all asking about investing in Taiwan”. Previously, the people who did so were mostly wealthy Taiwanese businessmen or those already with business connections there, the banker says.