May 2016 May | Vol. 2016 46 | | Vol. Issue 46 5 | Issue 5 THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN TAIPEI IN OF COMMERCE THE AMERICAN CHAMBER TAIPEI IN OF COMMERCE THE AMERICAN CHAMBER BoostingBoosting Taiwan’s Taiwan’s BiopharmaBiopharma Sector Sector TAIWAN BUSINESS TOPICS TAIWAN BUSINESS TOPICS TAIWAN 促進台灣的生技促進台灣的生技 製藥業製藥業 May 2016 | Vol. 46 | Issue 5 Vol. 2016 | May 46 | Issue 5 Vol. 2016 | May 中 華 郵 政中 北 華台 郵字 政第 北SPECIAL 台 字 第 SPECIAL SECTION SECTION ON PUBLIC ON PUBLIC SAFETY SAFETY DENGUEDENGUE FEVER FEVER 5000 5000 號 執 照 登號 記 執為 照雜 登誌 記交INDUSTRIAL 為寄 雜 誌 交INDUSTRIAL 寄 DESIGN DESIGN ISSUE SPONSORISSUE SPONSOR Published by the Published by the American Chamber OfAmerican Chamber Of Read TOPICSRead Online TOPICS at topics.amcham.com.tw Online at topics.amcham.com.tw NT$150 NT$150Commerce In Taipei Commerce In Taipei 5_2016_Cover.indd5_2016_Cover.indd 1 1 2016/5/9 9:54:15 AM2016/5/9 9:54:15 AM CONTENTS NEWS AND VIEWS 6 Editorial MAY 2016 VOLUME 46, NUMBER 5 Fostering Knowledge Workers 一○五年五月號 培育知識工作者 7 Taiwan Briefs Publisher 發行人 By Timothy Ferry Andrea Wu 吳王小珍 Editor-in-Chief 總編輯 13 Issues 沙蕩 Don Shapiro USTR Lays Out the Issues; Protecting Associate Editor 副主編 Tim Ferry 法緹姆 Antibiotics Art Director/ 美術主任/ 美國發布2016年各國貿易障礙評估 Production Coordinator 後製統籌 Katia Chen 陳國梅 報告；保障抗生素藥效 Manager, Publications Sales & Marketing 廣告行銷經理 By Don Shapiro Caroline Lee 李佳紋 Translation 翻譯 16 Commentary Jay Chen, Yichun Chen, Sonia Tsai Testimony by Deputy Assistant Secre- 陳正杰, 陳宜君, 函岑 tary of State Susan Thornton American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei COVER SECTION 129 MinSheng East Road, Section 3, 7F, Suite 706, Taipei 10596, Taiwan 18 Boosting Taiwan’s P.O. Box 17-277, Taipei, 10419 Taiwan Tel: 2718-8226 Fax: 2718-8182 Biopharma Sector e-mail: [email protected] website: http://www.amcham.com.tw 促進台灣的生技製藥業 名稱：台北市美國商會工商雜誌 發行所：台北市美國商會 臺北市10596民生東路三段129號七樓706室 Several Taiwan biopharma compa- 電話：2718-8226 傳真：2718-8182 nies have developed promising new Taiwan Business TOPICS is a publication of the American Chamber of drugs, and the new government Commerce in Taipei, ROC. Contents are independent of and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Officers, Board of Governors, taking office this month is expected Supervisors or members. © Copyright 2016 by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, to place even more emphasis on this ROC. All rights reserved. Permission to reprint original material must be requested in writing from AmCham. Production done in-house, sector. For the industry to become Printing by Farn Mei Printing Co., Ltd. 登記字號：台誌第一零九六九號 a major driver of economic growth, 印刷所：帆美印刷股份有限公司 however, Taiwan will likely need to 經銷商：台灣英文雜誌社 台北市108台北市萬華區長沙街二段66號 發行日期：中華民國一○五年五月 create a more favorable environ- 中華郵政北台字第5000號執照登記為雜誌交寄 ISSN 1818-1961 ment to encourage investment, including regulatory changes and Chairman/ Dan Silver better pricing for innovative drugs. Vice Chairmen/ Margaret Driscoll / Daniel Tseng Treasurer: Al Chang By Matthew Fulco Secretary: Fupei Wang 2015-2016 Governors: 26 Steady Rise in Taiwan’s Eugene Chang, Margaret Driscoll, Revital Golan, Vincent Shih, Rodney Van Dooren, Fupei Wang, Lee Wood. Cancer Incidence 2016-2017 Governors: Al Chang, Christine Jih, Annie Lee, Edward Shober, Dan Silver, Joanne Tsai, Daniel Tseng, Neil 27 OBI Pharma Scandal Waters. Widens 2015 Supervisors: Albert Chang, Anita Chen, Nick Chen, Arthur Cozad, Joseph Lin DESIGN IN TAIWAN COMMITTEES: Agro-Chemical/ Melody Wang; Asset Management/ Christine Jih, Derek Yung; Banking/ Victor Kuan; Capital Markets/ Mandy Huang, C.P. Liu, Shirley Tsai; Chemical Manufacturers/ Michael Wong; CSR/ Lume Liao, Fupei Wang; Customs & International Trade/ Stephen Tan; Greater China Business/ Cheng-Mount Cheng, Helen Chou; Human Resources/ Vickie Chen, Richard Lin, Monica Han, Seraphim Mar; Infrastructure/ Paul Lee; Insurance/ Arthur Cozad, Dan Ting; Intellectual Property & Licensing/ Jason Chen, Peter Dernbach, Jeffrey Harris, Vincent Shih; Marketing & Distribution/ Wei Hsiang, Gordon Stewart; Medical Devices/ Terry Lin, Dan Silver, Joanne Yao; Pharmaceutical/ Margaret E. Driscoll, David Lin, Jun Hong Park; Private Equity/ William Bryson; Public Health/ Dennis Lin, Joseph Romanelli; Real Estate/ Tony Chao; Retail/ Ray Chan, Prudence Jang, Wern- Yuen Tan; Sustainable Development/ Kenny Jeng, Cosmas Lu, Kernel Wang; Tax/ Stella Lai/ Cheli Liaw, Josephine 29 Increased Attention for Industrial Design Peng; Technology/ Revital Golan, Rod Morgan, Jeanne Wang; Telecommunications & Media/ Thomas Ee, Joanne Tsai, Ken Companies are relying on designers to help them achieve product differentiation Wu; Transportation/ Nick Chen; Travel & Tourism/ Anita Chen, Pauline Leung, Achim v. Hake. and enhance competitiveness. By Philip Liu 4 taiwan business topics • may 2016 5 Contents.indd 4 2016/5/10 11:55:01 AM may 2016 • Volume 46 number 5 BACKGROUNDER SPeCIal rePorT on 33 Zika Threat Galvanizes Dengue Prevention PublIC SaFeTy Taiwan is redoubling efforts to halt the spread of dengue fever, which has hit the southern part of the island hard over the past two years. 38 Peace of Mind While in Taiwan Taiwanese and foreigners alike appreciate the low crime By Jules Quartly rates on the island. By Andy Chu CHAMBER ACTIVITIES 40 Taiwan Remains One of Asia’s Safest Countries 50 AmCham Taipei Honors Dr. Einhorn By Matthew Fulco 41 Taiwan’s Scam Artists Go Global From as far afield as Africa, fraud rings made up of criminals from both sides of the Taiwan Strait are fleecing victims. By Matthew Fulco 43 Getting into Interpol: Taiwan’s Predicament By Andy Chu 44 Is the Mob Receding or Just Going Lower Profile? Taiwan society has changed, and the gangsters have either disappeared or become more sophisticated, depending on who you ask. By Timothy Ferry taiwan business topics • may 2016 5 5 Contents.indd 5 2016/5/10 11:55:21 AM E D I T O R I A L Fostering Knowledge Workers aiwan’s long-term prosperity will require a shift to a new required working-hour conditions and acceptable modes of record- economic paradigm centered on the ability of knowledge- keeping. After numerous rounds of meetings organized by AmCham T based industries to generate constant innovation. Yet many Taipei’s Human Resources Committee, including one session of the government policies and regulations in place are still geared attended by the labor inspection chiefs from Taipei City and New toward the traditional factory production-line models of the past. Taipei City, HR managers now have a better understanding of how That approach is already incompatible with current needs, let to satisfy the current legal requirements. alone the challenges of the years and decades ahead. But the long-range implications of the current government A prime example is an issue that has kept the human-re- policy remain. Knowledge workers – well-educated professionals sources managers of a wide range of Taiwan-based companies, who are dedicated to their jobs and have developed valuable areas both foreign-invested and domestic, in a state of frenzy for the past of expertise – perform best when treated with dignity and respect, several months: how should working hours be regulated for knowl- not regimented and subject to a host of controls. The number of edge workers? The Labor Standards Law stipulates a maximum hours put in is less important than the completion and quality of number of working hours per week, allowing some flexibility for the work. only a few occupations (journalists, salespersons, telecom-industry Keeping such responsibility-driven personnel under the existing workers, and professional drivers), and requiring detailed records regulatory framework will only stifle the innovation and creativity tracking employees’ time on the job. that the authorities say they wish to foster. It will also make the goal In recent months, the labor affairs offices in major munic- of promoting start-up technology companies even more difficult. ipalities have been increasing the scope and frequency of their In addition, maintaining a log of work hours is a burden when inspections, and imposing stiff fines on companies found to be so much of the activity in Taiwan’s internationally oriented busi- non-compliant. For many of these enterprises – especially among ness sector involves communications with customers, suppliers, or financial institutions and other employers mainly of white-collar colleagues in other parts of the world in different time zones. Meet- workers – this was a new and unnerving experience. In particular, ings today are as likely to be teleconferences or videoconferences as for branches of prominent multinational corporations, who pride face to face. themselves on adhering strictly to the letter of the law, it meant The current regulations are well-intended, aimed at ensuring that having to explain to headquarters why the company had received workers are properly paid for overtime and that they are not over- a black mark. In many cases, the reason was simply staff members’ worked to the detriment of their health. But an overly paternalistic habit of remaining in the office after normal working hours to attitude toward protecting white-collar professionals is bound to socialize or wait for a spouse. backfire, holding back Taiwan’s business sector from advancing to a The short-term confusion and frustration could have been new level of competitiveness. AmCham Taipei’s HR and Technology prevented if the labor authorities had communicated more clearly Committees both strongly advocate revising the current rules to with business