38^th Joint Conference of ATBC and ROCABC (37^th JBC) – Wednesday to Saturday 20^th to 22^th August 2025 at Taipei, Taiwan

The 38th Joint Conference of the Australia-Taiwan Business Council (ATBC) and ROC-Australia Business Council (ROCABC), held in Taipei, Taiwan from 20-22 August 2025, was a resounding success. The conference would not have been possible without the exceptional contributions of the distinguished speakers and the active participation of attendees from both Australia and Taiwan. Their efforts were crucial in making this event a great achievement.

The highlights of the 38th JBC, as reflected in the conference theme – ‘Australia and Taiwan: Building a Secure and Sustainable Future,’ include:

1. Welcome Gala Dinner – Wednesday 20^th August 2025 at The Howard Plaza Hotel Taipei

   Dignitaries attending the dinner included Mr Joseph Lyu (Chairman, Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association/CIECA), Mr Chien-Chih Hwang (Chairman, ROC–Australia Business Council/ROCABC), Mr John Toigo (Chairman, Australia–Taiwan Business Council Ltd./ATBC), and Mr Michael Crowder (First Assistant Secretary, East Asia Division, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade).

2. Conference – Thursday 21^st August 2025 at Shangri-La Far Eastern, Taipei

   • Opening Ceremony: The Conference commenced with opening remarks from Chairman Joseph Lyu (CIECA), Chairman Chien-Chih Hwang (ROCABC), Chairman John Toigo (ATBC), Deputy Minister Chen Ming-Chi (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China – Taiwan), Deputy Minister Cynthia Kiang (Ministry of Economic Affairs, R.O.C.), Senator the Honourable Don Farrell (Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism – via video), and the Honourable Rosslyn Bates MP (Queensland Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training – via video).
   • The topics covered: Energy Security and the Net-Zero Transition; Agribusiness Sustainability; Circular Economy and Industry Transformation; and Critical Technologies including Semiconductors, Advanced Manufacturing and Long-Range Wi-Fi for IoT. The program also featured a Panel Discussion introducing the Australia-Taiwan Young Business Leaders Program, highlighting emerging leaders across Digital Economy, Sustainable Business and Youth Engagement.
   • Case Studies and Closing Ceremony: The Conference featured a case study presentation on business investment between Taiwan and Australia, followed by closing remarks from Chairman Chien-Chih Hwang (ROCABC) and Chairman John Toigo (ATBC). The Conference concluded with a formal gift exchange and reaffirmation of support for Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
   • Farewell Dinner: Hosted by ROCABC/CIECA, Taiwan, this dinner served as the final networking opportunity, featuring remarks from respective Representatives from Taiwan Mr Douglas Hsu and Australia Mr Robert Fergusson.

3. Industry Visit – Friday 22^nd August 2025 in Taipei and Taoyuan

   The delegation participated in an industry visit program in Taipei and Taoyuan, commencing at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1. The visit was arranged with the support of the Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association (TAIROA) and Chan Chao International Co., providing delegates with insights into Taiwan’s advanced automation, robotics and intelligent manufacturing sectors.

   Following the exhibition visit, the delegation travelled to Advantech’s AIoT Co-Creation Campus in Linkou, Taoyuan. The visit offered a comprehensive overview of Advantech’s leadership in industrial IoT, smart systems integration and digital transformation solutions, further strengthening business engagement and collaboration opportunities between Taiwan and Australia.

   The Industry Visit served as a valuable extension of the Conference program, fostering deeper commercial understanding and practical industry connections between participating enterprises from both economies.