TAIPEI: President Lai Ching-te announced that Taiwan’s economy is projected to grow by more than 5% this year, surpassing the growth rates of the Four Asian Tigers — South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan itself — as well as major economies including Japan, the United States, the European Union, and China.
Speaking at the 70th anniversary of the China Productivity Center, Lai credited the organization’s decades-long contribution to Taiwan’s industrial and economic development. He said the country’s robust export performance, record-high employment, and a surging stock market — with the weighted index recently exceeding 28,000 points — demonstrate strong and sustained economic momentum.
According to official data from the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics, Taiwan recorded quarterly growth rates of 5.48%, 8%, and 7.64% this year, significantly higher than 2024’s 4.84%. Lai emphasized that 2025 will mark “the year of Taiwan’s rise,” driven by innovation, green transformation, and industrial upgrading.
The government plans to invest NT$900 billion (US$29.1 billion) by 2030 to generate NT$4 trillion in private investment, accelerate the net-zero transition, and enhance industrial competitiveness. Additionally, Taiwan is advancing “Ten Major AI Infrastructure Projects” and investing in emerging technologies such as quantum computing, robotics, and silicon photonics. To cushion sectors affected by structural changes, Lai announced a NT$93 billion support program to assist businesses, workers, and farmers.