TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Taiwan should use its strong artificial intelligence industry and stock market to become “Asia’s Nasdaq,” CNA reported Friday.
Speaking in an interview with TTV News, Lai said Taiwan has one of the world’s most complete AI ecosystems and a strong base to attract technology investment. He said Taiwan must follow global market trends and make it easier for companies to list shares and raise money.
Lai said Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and Financial Supervisory Commission Chairperson Peng Jin-long (彭金隆) have worked over the past one to two years to ease market rules. He said the government has made 52 regulatory changes to make Taiwan’s capital market more attractive.
These changes include making it easier for more investors to enter certain markets. They also allow stronger links with the main stock market through odd-lot trading, margin trading, and day trading.
Lai said Taiwan’s stock market has strong capital flow and is the fifth-largest in the world by market value. He said Taiwan has advantages over South Korea, Japan, Singapore, China, and Hong Kong because it has a full AI industry chain.
The president said global startups, including AI and technology companies, can raise funds more easily in Taiwan. He said they can also work with local companies, find technology partners, develop products, and test them in the market.
Lai said the plan would benefit Taiwan’s capital market, small businesses, and technology companies. He said it would also help spread growth across the economy and support long-term industrial development.
When asked which industry could become Taiwan’s next major economic pillar, Lai said AI could help many sectors grow. He said Taiwan should use its AI strengths to help all industries become more competitive.
Lai said he hopes every industry can work with Taiwan’s AI sector. He said this would make Taiwan better prepared for future economic growth.
