Taiwan’s ETF market is a standout when compared with even the larger markets in Asia. Indeed, the market’s 40% compound annual growth rate over the past five years is the fastest in the world. The participation of retail investors is among the highest in Asia accounting for more than half of ETF assets. Among them, appetite for high-dividend equity ETFs, those that track the high-tech sectors such as semiconductor, artificial intelligence, and US bonds is creating the buzz and underpins product innovation.

• Why is Taiwan’s ETF market growing faster than the rest of Asia?
• How are recent regulatory measures impacting the market’s development?
• Will offshore bond ETFs continue to attract the investors in the current environment?
• What are the views of market participants on the launch of active ETFs?

With ample liquidity, Taiwan’s strength in technology, and a focus on renewable energy, interest in private assets among financial sponsors and investors is emerging. Although it is early days, the quest to generate uncorrelated returns, achieve the benefits of diversification, and plugging into the real economy are likely to drive activity in the coming year. Private equity funds, for example, have a surfeit of dry powder looking for assets. On the other hand, Taiwan’s high net worth individuals are increasingly interested in investing in private assets, which is much alike with the rest of the region.

• What are private assets?
• What are the different ways investors are able to access the private market?
• How do private assets fit into an investor’s asset allocation?
• What types of private assets are popular and what are the advantages they offer?

Taiwan’s claim to fame has been its strong push to develop offshore renewable energy in the past five years, even ahead of the more developed markets in North Asia. In the past three quarters, it can lay claim to another success: the amount of net new money that went into Taiwan-domiciled sustainable funds. This is despite the noise around sustainability, ESG, and their performance. Regulators have played a role in the economy’s sustainability focus. But it is also the case that the financial and investing industry is similarly keen to promote sustainability when it comes to investing for the future.

• How are regulators looking to further its focus on ESG investing opportunity in Taiwan?
• What are the considerations that create value for investors when investing in ESG products?
• How is sustainable finance shaping up in Taiwan?
• What opportunities and challenges are emerging for both corporates and investors?