CNFI works toward facilitating Taiwan’s economic progress in our capricious age. On one hand, the growth engine in established parts of the world, also known as the rich countries, has slowed down; on the other hand, the growth potential for the rest of the world has never been as conspicuous as now. While whether the “new economy” really exists remains a topic of contention, the business environment the older generations were familiar with has changed. Only one thing is certain: Substantial losses and gains always come when paradigm shifts occur. This era of uncertainty has changed the way business is conducted. CNFI, as the representative of Taiwanese manufacturing industries, will continue to serve as the bridge between these enterprises and the government to represent the voice of business and to ameliorate the environment for businesses and other parts of the society alike.

Quarterly Luncheon Meeting of the Industrial Association’s Leaders with Cabinet Level Officials

Our quarterly luncheon meeting provides opportunities for our members to meet with high-level government officials to exchange ideas and discuss issues that are critical to industrial developments. Since its official launching in January 1995, the CNFI luncheon meetings have been held quarterly featuring cabinet-level officials. In order to make discussions focused, we invite ministers and relevant government officials of functions specific to the topics of focus to join the in discussing with CNFI board directors and business leaders. Up to the present, we have successfully organized more than 80 luncheon meetings with ministers or deputy ministers from various cabinet functions, participated in and have had strong effects on various governmental decision-making that concerned our members.

Top Management Forum

In recent years, “convergence” has become an often discussed topic in business and management arena. How to help our members to deal with changes in the domestic and foreign business environment and how to increase their preparedness to deal with hyper global competitions now constitutes part of our obligations . From 1994, CNFI has periodically organized “Top Management Forum” to integrate theories and practices for businesses of different fields, and to further promote corporate experiences sharing. From the outset, the Management Forum has attracted some 400 professional managers and top corporate executives each year. Apart from focusing on organizational aspects, to balance corporate and personal life for managerial professionals, equal emphasis has always been placed on personal development and issues on life quality.

Trade Development

CNFI represents the most significant opinions whenever the Taiwanese Government is seeking advice from industrial sectors on WTO matters. Because it is the only business association actively engaging various national task forces in Taiwan, such as rules, NAMA, and trade facilitation negotiations, CNFI is the most experienced NGO in both helping companies deal with foreign trade remedies investigations, and lodging the trade remedy request against foreign countries. Its expertise can be summarized as the following:

1. Assisting Taiwanese businesses in setting up an industrial information precautionary system to warn against foreign trade remedy investigation.

2. Helping firms and industrial associations bring up trade relief and countervailing duties as well as of anti-dumping lawsuits.

3. Publishing brochures on WTO/domestic/foreign anti-dumping rules and a handbook for foreign investigation.

4. Bring enterprises’ opinions and providing advice the government on the issues with WTO, APEC, and other trade negotiations.

5. Conducting survey on foreign trade barriers and helping our members tackle with those.

6. Facilitating trading relationship among our members, foreign counterparts, and foreign governments.

7. Assisting exporters in dealing with foreign anti-dumping investigations.

8. Supporting government in bringing up or confront WTO cases.

Mainland China Economic Affairs

1. Operating an economic and trading databank in Mainland China.

2. Organizing online communication activities for Taiwanese investors in Mainland China.

3. Publishing a Taiwanese investor’s directory on Mainland China.

4. Issuing newsletters of Taiwanese investors on Mainland China

5. Collecting information on the investment environment in Mainland China.

6. Promoting association organizations for Taiwanese investors that will strengthen communication and assistance for manufacturers.

7. Assisting the affiliated manufacturer members and to provide them with relevant economic and trading services in Mainland China.

Intellectual Property Protection

1. Assisting the government in promoting intellectual property protection policies as well as rule-setting and actions.

2. Educating the public about intellectual property rights protection.

3. Helping the industrial/commercial organizations voice the demands and opinions of enterprises.

4. Coordinating with industrial/commercial organizations to initiate self-disciplinary measures.

5. Strengthening communications with non-governmental organizations for intellectual property protection in the world.

6. Gathering domestic and foreign IPR related information.

7. Assisting manufacturers in the development of their own in-house brands.

8. Clarifying and defend against groundless accusations and false claims as might have been alleged by foreign governments, civilian groups and enterprises.

9. Designing a website for “Patent Database Searching”, that will provide a way to search patents on the Internet.

Participation of the International Organization of Employers (IOE)

The International Organization of Employers (IOE) is affiliated with the United Nations International Labor's Organization (ILO), which comprises members of employer's organizations all over the world with objective of upholding employer's benefits. As a member of the IOE, the CNFI has actively represented Taiwan (R.O.C.) by attending IOE annual conference and co-sponsored relevant international seminars.

“Network for Corporate Training” Program

To assist the business in maintaining competitive human resources and expanding information exchange channels, CNFI was commissioned in 1998 by the Employment of Vocational Training Administration under the Council of Labor Affairs, Executive Yuan, to establish a network for corporate training. The purpose of this program was to set up a nationwide network to extend the breadth and depth of corporate training. The nationwide framework of corporate training aims to reinforce information exchanges in order to provide business firms with needed information, guidance and services.

Inauguration of Taiwan Industry On-Line Internet Service

With a view to upgrading our service quality and assist manufacturers in promoting their services and products in the world market, the Taiwan Industry On-Line Website was created in 1996. This website contains information on over 80,000 manufacturers in Taiwan, and provides a multi-function online search engine. It has become the most complete product information network ever available in Taiwan and continues to serve as the ideal bridge between suppliers and buyers.

Promotion of an Improved Labor and Employer Relationship

For harmonize industrial relations and for securing the rights of both, meetings are held to discuss specific issues such as foreign labor policy, the Labor Standards Law, labor insurance, national health insurance care and medical care. In this way, the rights of labor may be protected without much compromising corporates’ international competitiveness.