Inventec Corp expects double-digit AI growthGOOD BUSINESS: The company has secured at least two major customers for AI servers, and rising memory prices have not had a major impact yetBy Meryl Kao / Staff reporterInventec Corp (英業達) expects its artificial intelligence (AI) server business to continue showing double-digit percentage growth this year following a 40 percent increase last year, chairman Sam Yeh (葉力誠) said on Tuesday. The company expects shipments of “Level 11” servers to rise sharply from last year, driven by sustained demand from CSPs and enterprise customers, Inventec president Jack Tsai (蔡枝安) said at the same event. However, models equipped with Nvidia Corp’s B200 and B300 chips remain the major driver of the company’s server shipment growth this year, he said. The company expects this business to double revenue again this year on the back of closer ties with customers, he added. Meanwhile, Inventec Appliances posted strong performance last year, driven by its Vietnamese plant, chairman David Ho (何代水) said at the event.

Citigroup revenue surgesBloombergCitigroup Inc posted record client revenue in Taiwan last year, fueled by a surge in fundraising from technology companies despite intensifying competition from rival investment banks. Local chipmakers and hardware providers are aggressively tapping overseas markets as global demand for artificial intelligence (AI) components surges. Share sales by Taiwanese tech firms to foreign investors have jumped over the past two years. Citigroup has raised more than US$30 billion for Taiwanese clients since 2020 from global capital markets to support their growth. “Many companies are already pursuing overseas M&A [mergers and acquisitions] to strengthen their AI capabilities,” Citigroup Global Markets Taiwan Securities Co (花旗環球證券) chairman Laura Chen (陳詩韻) said in the same interview.

Taiwanese firms optimistic amid uncertainty: surveyBy Crystal Hsu / Staff reporterTaiwanese business leaders remain broadly optimistic about economic prospects this year, but rising uncertainty over US trade policy, persistent talent shortages and uneven returns from artificial intelligence (AI) investment are reshaping corporate strategies, according to a CEO survey released yesterday by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Taiwan. The US has emerged as the top investment destination globally, across the Asia-Pacific region and in Taiwan, the survey showed. While AI adoption has accelerated, financial returns remain mixed. Over the past year, AI contributed to revenue growth for 27 percent of Taiwanese firms, while 22 percent reported cost reductions. “Innovation is not only a growth engine, but also a defensive moat for sustaining market leadership,” PwC Taiwan said.

Kinpo Group to return to stable growthBy Meryl Kao / Staff reporterKinpo Group (金寶集團), which comprises Kinpo Electronics Inc (金寶電子), AcBel Polytech Inc (康舒科技) and Cal-Comp Electronics and Communications Co (泰金寶), yesterday said that its operations would return to stable growth this year on the back of strong demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications and its efforts in business transformation. The group reported revenue for last year of NT$195.08 billion (US$6.17 billion), compared with NT$196.1 billion a year earlier. Kinpo Group founder Rock Hsu, center left, chairman Jerry Hsu, center right, and other executives pose for a photograph at a corporate event in Taipei yesterday. Demand for the company’s fuel cell products is also expected to grow exponentially over the next few years, he said. Meanwhile, Kinpo Electronics plans to collaborate with AcBel Polytech this year to develop new charging pile products, further expanding its product portfolio, Kinpo Electronics president Andrew Chen (陳威昌) said.

The company sees rising demand for silicon wafers this year, as the AI boom boosts industry interest in advanced chips and chip packaging technologies, GlobalWafers said yesterday. Additionally, customer inventories are improving significantly, stimulating higher demand for silicon wafers than last year, it said. GlobalWafers Co chairwoman and chief executive officer Doris Hsu poses for a photograph at a media gathering in Hsinchu yesterday. GlobalWafers counts Apple Inc, Micron Technology Inc and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (台積電) among its customers with operations in the US. Last year, GlobalWafers’ revenue fell 3.24 percent to NT$60.6 billion (US$1.92 billion) from NT$62.63 billion in 2024.

KMT, TPP criticize Lai as hearings continueTOE TO TOE: The passage of the impeachment motion targeting President William Lai is not likely, as it needs the support of two-thirds of the legislatureStaff writer, with CNAOpposition lawmakers yesterday lashed out at President William Lai (賴清德) at a Legislative Yuan plenary session after Lai declined to appear at a hearing on an impeachment motion directed at him. Opposition lawmakers initiated impeachment proceedings against Lai last month after the president declined to promulgate a bill passed by opposition lawmakers that would increase the share of tax revenue allocated to local governments. This week’s first impeachment hearing was held yesterday based on the schedule passed by the main opposition Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the smaller Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). KMT caucus convener Fu Kun-chi (傅?萁) said that by declining to attend the hearing, Lai attempted to evade legislative oversight and public scrutiny after he had infringed on Taiwan’s democracy and constitutional order. The passage of the motion is not likely as the KMT, TPP and two independents ideologically aligned with the KMT combine for only 62 (about 55 percent) of the 113 legislative seats.

US senators to review 4 Taiwan-related billsStaff writer, with CNAThe US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is to review four Taiwan-related bills on Thursday next week covering “sovereignty symbols,” energy security, undersea cable protection and support for Taiwan’s partners. The four are the Taiwan Symbols of Sovereignty Act, the Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act, the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act and the Taiwan Allies Fund Act, information on the committee’s Web site says. The second bill, the bipartisan Taiwan Energy Security and Anti-Embargo Act, focuses on Taiwan’s dependence on imported energy and its vulnerability to coercion by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The third bipartisan proposal, the Taiwan Undersea Cable Resilience Initiative Act, is aimed at protecting Taiwan’s critical communications infrastructure and deterring China’s “gray zone” activities. Noting that 99 percent of Taiwan’s Internet bandwidth relies on undersea cables, the bill would require the US secretary of state to lead efforts to strengthen cable security around Taiwan.

Cold snap grips nation, snowfall possible: CWAStaff writer, with CNAThe Central Weather Administration (CWA) yesterday issued low-temperature alerts for 10 cities and counties amid a strong continental cold air mass that would grip much of the nation through tomorrow. A yellow alert was issued for Miaoli, Nantou, Yunlin and Chiayi counties, and the outlying Kinmen County, with temperatures in low-lying areas forecast to dip below 10°C. Northern Taiwan would remain cold and damp today, with occasional rain, while snowfall is possible in mountainous areas above 2,000m, Wu said. Conditions in northern Taiwan are expected to turn mostly cloudy starting tomorrow, while eastern Taiwan might still see sporadic showers, he said. Simulation models indicate generally stable weather from Saturday to Tuesday next week, with temperatures gradually rising, he said.

Kaohsiung offers bear mugs to blood donorsGIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boostBy Hsu Li-chuan,Tang Shih-ming and Esme Yeh

Taipei Railway Station to hold security drillsBy Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNASecurity drills simulating an indiscriminate attack are to be held at Taipei Railway Station today from 2pm to 3pm, during which phones within a 1km radius would receive alert messages, the Taipei City Government said yesterday. Anyone within a 1km radius of the station would receive a text in English and Chinese saying: “Drill: A public safety incident has occurred at Taipei Railway Station. Police officers patrol the Main Hall of Taipei Railway Station on Dec. 23 last year, five days after an indiscriminate attack occurred at the station. A similar drill was held at MRT Taipei City Hall Station and Taipei City Hall Bus Station last month in cooperation with Taipei Rapid Transit Corp to test the efficiency of evacuation alerts and to boost responses to random, indiscriminate attacks. Taipei Main Station is Taiwan’s only hub integrating five rail systems and serves an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 passengers daily.

New airport apron to open next weekENHANCING EFFICIENCY: The apron can accommodate 16 airplanes overnight at Taoyuan airport while work on the third runway continues, the transport minister saidBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporter, Taiwan Taoyuan International AirportA new temporary overnight parking apron at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is to start operating on Friday next week to boost operational efficiency while the third runway is being constructed, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday. Aside from providing the airport operator with greater flexibility in aircraft parking during the third runway construction, the apron would also ease parking space for cargo planes, Chen said. Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai, center, speaks to reporters on the airport ramp at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan yesterday. In addition to passenger jets, we need parking facilities for cargo jets during the busiest time of the year,” he said, adding that the apron would enhance the efficiency of cargo transportation at the airport. Taoyuan airport can accommodate 150 aircraft on regular nights, operator Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said.

Preclearance entry to Japan to start next weekBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporter Staff reporter Staff reporterA preclearance service to facilitate entry for people traveling to select airports in Japan would be available from Thursday next week to Feb. 25 at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taoyuan International Airport Corp (TIAC) said on Tuesday. The service was first made available to Taiwanese travelers throughout the winter vacation of 2024 and during the Lunar New Year holiday. A sign explaining the pre-clearance service for travelers to Japan is pictured at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Feb.1, 2024. Upon arrival in Japan, travelers only need to reconfirm their identity to complete the process and enter the country, it added. When accessing preclearance service, travelers should present a handwritten Japanese immigration card or the entry information they filled in via the Visit Japan Web (VJW), the company said, adding that those who choose the latter must show the information on live screen for verification.

DPP Legislator Puma Shen (沈伯洋) said Huang had two aides with him when he took the confidential materials out of the meeting room. They might have taken photos to help Huang plan his own version of special defense budget or might have leaked state secrets, Shen said. “That is sufficient time for Huang’s aides to take photos of the documents, page by page,” Chen said. Huang last week said that he would propose his own version of the special defense budget, she added. “The US side is to reveal the content of those special budget items in the coming weeks.

Chinese AI is focused on information management, a Beijing-based governance model and the commercialization of AI, Democratic Governance Program director Huang Kai-shen (黃凱紳) said. Program deputy director Lai You-hao (賴又豪) said that China’s alleged attempt to siphon information from other countries is apparent in its push for global markets to deploy its AI software. Liu I-chen (劉以正), Asia-Pacific program officer for the London-based Article 19 rights group, said that human rights risk being undermined or abused by using Chinese-developed AI models. Chou Chih-ho (周智禾), deputy director-general of the Ministry of Digital Affairs’ Cyber Security Administration, said that Taipei has been improving information security since 2001. Tu Yu-yin (涂予尹), a professor of public administration at Tamkang University, said that information security systems are not the crux of the issue.

Kaohsiung offers bear mugs to blood donorsGIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boostBy Hsu Li-chuan,Tang Shih-ming and Esme Yeh