Taiwan's Inbound Investments Hit 2-Year High of US$346.5M. in January

Taipei, Feb. 24, 2011 (CENS)--The Investment Commission of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) approved a total of 175 inbound investment cases by overseas Taiwanese and foreigners in January, and their combined monthly investment value hit a two-year high of US$346.487 million, showing a robust annual growth of 14.56%.

In terms of industries, finance and insurance topped with inbound investment value of US$166.87 million, followed by electronic parts manufacturing with US$47.488 million and technical services US$23.29 million.

Among investors, EQT Partners, a Swedish private fund, took lead by investing US$97.81 million via its affiliate here to purchase a cable TV company on the island. Besides, the U.S.-based Metlife Insurance Co., Ltd. remitted about US$25 million to increase the capital of its Taiwan branch.

In addition, the Investment Commission also approved 10 investment cases applied by Chinese mainlanders during the month, with investment value totaling US$5.01 million. Among the mainland Chinese investors a cable and wire manufacturer was regarded as the largest one with investment value of US$3.55 million.

On another front, a total of 75 China-bound investment cases launched by Taiwanese investors were approved by the Investment Commission in January, with their aggregate investments reaching US$757.25 million. Of which, US$100 million was made by Compal Electronics Inc. to se up an investment firm in Sichuan Province and US$50 million by Lite-On Technology Corp., to establish a real estate firm in Jiangsu Province. The two are leading electronic firms in Taiwan.