2026 Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Forum
2026年08月04日
To advance the business partnership between Taiwan and Japan, CNAIC and The Central Japan Economic Federation (Chukeiren) jointly hosted the “2026 Taiwan-Japan Economic and Trade Forum” on the afternoon of August 4, 2026, at the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC), aiming to promote bilateral exchanges and supply chain cooperation. CNAIC Vice Chairman Joe Huang praised the advantage of highly complementary industrial strengths shared by Taiwan and Japan, adding that by combining their respective technologies, talents, and market resources, the two sides can not only create more business opportunities, but also jointly enhance the resilience of supply chains in Asia and inject strong momentum into regional economic growth.
Featuring the topics of “Smart Mobility” and “Disaster Prevention,” the two-hour Forum invited prominent representatives from the government, industry, and academia in Taiwan and Japan for in-depth discussions on the rapidly evolving international landscape, with a focus on the development of AI, digital and green transformation, the accelerating restructuring of global supply chains, and changing geopolitics. In his Opening Remarks, Vice Chairman Huang, on behalf of all members of CNAIC, expressed condolences to Chukeiren Chairman Satoru Katsuno regarding the damage caused by the recent earthquake in Kumamoto. He also noted that after CNAIC Chairman Thomas Wu led a trade delegation to central Japan in 2025, Chairman Katsuno’s visit to Taiwan this year not only marks a new milestone in bilateral exchanges, but also demonstrates the shared commitment to further deepening cooperation and creating regional prosperity.
In response, Chairman Katsuno stressed that central Japan, as a major manufacturing hub in Japan, is currently promoting the “Central Japan Vision.” Through this visit to Taiwan, Chukeiren hopes to get a better understanding of Taiwan’s semiconductor and high-tech industries, its models of industry-government-academia collaboration, and its experience in disaster prevention. The goal is to apply these insights to the central Japan region and further enhance the competitiveness of its manufacturing sector and regional resilience. In line with the goal, Chukeiren will continue to step up personnel exchanges and private-sector economic cooperation with Taiwan. Through cross-border and cross-disciplinary talent collaboration, Taiwan and Japan can work together to address challenges arising from global energy fluctuations and economic uncertainty. In the meantime, he also encouraged the industries in Taiwan and central Japan to forge closer partnerships which can contribute to global economic development.
During the well-received Forum, the first session included two reports by representatives from CNAIC and Chukeiren, providing information on the latest development and activities of the two organizations. They highlighted their efforts and achievements in boosting business exchanges, strengthening regional governance, and facilitating industrial transformation. The second session focused on “Smart Mobility” and the two invited speakers were Elvis Yang, General Manager, RAC Electric Vehicles Inc., who spoke of the innovative practices and applications in electric buses and smart transportation. On the other hand, Koichiro Wada, Deputy Director of Chukeiren’s Planning Department, introduced the latest achievements in promoting smart mobility and regional development in central Japan. The third session discussed the topic of “Disaster Prevention” with presentations by Mr. Jas Huang, Chief of Membership and Data Innovation Research Department, Taiwan FamilyMart, and Masafumi Umemura, Managing Director and Secretary-General of Chukeiren. They shared the private sector’s practical experience on disaster preparedness and data applications as well as insightful perspectives on how to build regional resilience.
