As Senior Advisors for a major, international corporate consulting firm, you have been selected for the task of identifying a location to serve as the new global headquarters for Amazon.com. Each of you has had significant work experience and are considered to be the top specialists in this field with regard to your particular overseas country. You will make the case for a major financial city in your select country by performing the necessary research to arrive at a conclusion to locate outside of the United States, enabling Amazon.com to continue to innovate and prosper internationally. Each Advisor and their respective country of specialty will be competing for the top spot.

1. Presenter | Department or School | Date
Comparative Real Estate Markets In A Global
Perspective
Rahsaan Browne | NYU School Of Professional Studies | Fall 2020

2. AMAZON-GLOBAL
TAIWAN
Global Real Estate Research Paper
Professor: Weiss
Rahsaan L. Browne

3.  Letter Of
Transmittal
 Historical
Information
 Government and
it’s Political
Structure
 Demographic
Data
 Economic Data
 Taxes
 Tariffs
 Repatriation of
Capital
 International
Trade Policies
 Currencies Used
 Measurement
system
 Real Property
Rights & Interests
 Legal &
Regulatory GDP
 Inflation
 Infrastructure &
Economic
Development
 Modes of
Financing
 Real Estate Market
Data
 Healthcare
 Immigration policy
and the treatment
of expatriates
 Conclusion &
Recommendations
Table Of Contents

4. Letter of Transmittal
Rahsaan L. Browne
Sr. Partner
RLB Global Consulting
123 Anywhere Street
New York, NY 10013
Michael J. Weiss
Sr. Advisor
Amazon Board of Directors
245 School Drive
New York, NY 10021
Dear Mr. Michael J. Weiss
Within the attached Report, you will find information on the feasibility of Taiwan as a suitable country outside of
the United States to be the new global headquarters for Amazon. Enabling Amazon.com to continue to innovate
and prosper internationally.
Our analysis included researching the market in Taiwan and the success of similar businesses marketing their
products online. We have spoken directly with the team at Amazon to gather data and insights into how this move
will increase your market visibility and online sales internationally. Based on our research, we concluded that
Taiwan will be a beneficial space for your business. We have provided a plethora of information in the attached
report for your review.
Thank you for trusting us to complete this market research for you. We appreciate your business and look forward
to working with you. Please review the official report and respond with your thoughts.
If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me anytime at rlb@rlbglobalconsulting.com (516) 123-
4567. I look forward to speaking with you further on this project.
Sincerely,
Rahsaan Browne
Sr. Partner
RLB Global Consulting

5. HISTORICAL
INFORMATION

7. GOVERNMENT
&POLITICAL
STRUCTURE

9. DEMOGRAPHIC
DATA
Population 23,545,963 (July 2018 est.)
Age structure 0-14 years: 12.68% (male 1,535,365
/female 1,449,336)
15-24 years: 12.52% (male 1,509,023
/female 1,438,278)
25-54 years: 46.08% (male 5,412,487
/female 5,437,015)
55-64 years: 14.36% (male 1,652,683
/female 1,729,571)
65 years and over: 14.36% (male
1,541,716 /female 1,840,489) (2018 est.)
Dependency ratios total dependency ratio: 35.2 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 18.6 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 16.6 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 6 (2015 est.)
Median age total: 41.3 years (2018 est.)
male: 40.5 years
female: 42 years
Population growth
rate
0.15% (2018 est.)

10. ECONOMIC DATA

11. Taiwan is one of Asia's "Tiger
Economies," along
with Singapore, South Korea,
and Hong Kong.
After World War II, the island
received a huge influx of cash
when the fleeing KMT brought
millions in gold and foreign
currency from the mainland's
treasury to Taipei.
Today, Taiwan is a capitalist
powerhouse and a major
exporter of electronics and
other high-tech products.

12. TAXES

13. • Corporate Tax Rate in Taiwan remained unchanged at 20 % in 2020.
• The maximum rate was 25 % and minimum was 17 %.

14. TARIFFS
• Taiwan continues to make unilateral
improvements to its tariff structure on
finished goods and raw materials.
• In 2019, the average nominal tariff rate for
industrial products was 4.16 percent, and
15.12 percent for agricultural products.
• The overall average nominal tariff rate for
imported goods was 6.37 percent.

15. REPATRIATION OF CAPITAL
• On 3 July 2019, Taiwan's Legislative Yuan passed
a bill on the repatriation, use and taxation of
overseas funds.
• The legislation is designed to
encourage Taiwanese companies and individuals
abroad to return to, and invest in, Taiwan. ...
Overseas funds of companies derived from offshore
investments.

16. INTERNATIONAL
TRADE POLICIES

18. CURRENCIES USED
• The official currency in Taiwan is called
New Taiwan Dollar (TWD or NT/NTD).
• It is the only legal currency to purchase
in Taiwan, other currencies, like US dollars or
Renminbi, will not be accepted except in some
duty-free shops.

19. MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
• Linear measure in Taiwan is largely metric but
some units derived from traditional
Japanese units of measurement remain in use as
a legacy of Japanese rule.
• Taiwanese length units and the translation of
length units in Metric system (SI) shares the
same character.

20. REAL PROPERTY
RIGHTS &
INTERESTS
• A foreign investor can purchase property as an individual or through a
company.
• Taiwanese companies and private individual investors should be allowed
to acquire real estate in your home country or in the country where your
company has its main office.
• You can also establish a local company referred to as Foreign Investment
Approval (FIA) companies. This will allow you to acquire and lease real
estate in Taiwan.
• Leasehold titles for land are usually offered for a maximum period of 20
years. Superficies, on the other hand, sometimes have a longer validity
and up to 50-years.

21. LEGAL & REGULATORY POLICIES
Legal System of Taiwan
• Taiwan has a codified system of law where
the Constitution of Taiwan is the supreme law of
the land.
• The Legislative Yuan enacts laws through powers
granted to it by the Constitution. The Executive
Yuan may also announce regulations and
administrative orders in accordance with the law.

22. GROSS DOMESTIC
PRODUCT (GDP) AND
THE POTENTIAL FOR
GROWTH

23. Trade Growth
•In 2018 Taiwan’s overall exports and
imports increased by 5.9 % and 10.4 %
respectively, while its economy
expanded 2.63 %.
•Annual surveys of the world’s
economies, including those conducted
by the World Economic Forum, Business
Environment Risk Intelligence and the
Economist Intelligence Unit, have ranked
Taiwan among the top nations year after
year with respect to long-term growth
and technological development.

24. INFLATION

25. • This statistic shows the average inflation rate in Taiwan from 1984 to 2019,
with projections up until 2021.
• In 2019, the average inflation rate in Taiwan amounted to about 0.55 percent
compared to the previous year.

26. INFRASTRUCTURE
AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT

27. •The government promotes the “Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program” to meet national
infrastructure needs over the next 30 years.
•This program contains eight major elements: railway development, digital infrastructure, aquatic
environments, food safety, green energy, urban-rural development, boosting birthrates and child-care
facilities, and nurturing talent and employment.
•Under this approach, the government aims to raise wage levels and enhance regional development. As it
works to advance innovative industries, the government is also committed to protecting the environment.
With this in mind the new economic model seeks to fully integrate industrial restructuring, national land-use
planning and regional growth strategies to foster sustainable development while promoting the use of green
energy resources.
Forward-looking Infrastructure
Development Program

28. MODES OF FINANCING
• To help businesses gain easy access to capital, the Executive Yuan has proposed several projects
to provide low-interest loans such as Purchase of Automatic Machinery, Loans to Help Upgrade
Small-and-Medium-Sized Enterprises, Loans to Help Anti -Pollution Machinery for Local Businesses,
and Loans to Help Promote Traditional Sectors. All companies interested in these loans should
consult local or private banks. Loan interest rates for two -year fixed deposits of 2.175-2.45%.
• The Executive Yuan Development Fund is providing low -interest loans for manufacturing, Internet,
and technology service companies engaging in R&D or investment projects. Loans rates are range
between 1.5-2.5% (which includes yearly loan interest paid to the Development Fund and bank
guarantor fees at 0.5-1.5%); if a Small-to-Medium Sized Enterprise is needed as a guarantor,
then an additional processing fee is charged at 0.75% of the loan amount.
• The Mid to Long Term Loan Program -Any private investment worth over NT$100 million can apply
to its Competent Authority to submit a loan proposal to the Executive Yuan's Council of Economic
Planning and Development. Other loan rates are mid -to long term fund use interest rates
(currently 1.83%) including the banks raising quotas (limited to 2%).

29. REAL ESTATE
MARKET DATA

36. HEALTHCARE

37. •NHI’s structure as a “single-payer system” helps keep healthcare spending relatively
low through the power of monopsony – a market situation where there is only one
buyer.
•Every year, the NHIA adopts a system-wide global budget, which this year stands at
NT$714 billion.
•It then uses its powerful market leverage with contracted providers which include
93% of the island’s hospitals and clinics, as well as pharmacies, drug companies, and
medical device makers to hold spending within budget by playing a central role in
setting drug and medical device prices, as well as medical service fees.
•The program offers a comprehensive set of services, including outpatient visits,
hospitalization, Western and Chinese medication, and dental treatment. By
international standards, these services are cheap in Taiwan. For example, copayment
for dental treatment and Chinese medical care is only NT$50 per visit.
Taiwan’s National Health Insurance (NHI) system

38. Immigration policy and the treatment of expatriates

39. Four targets of recruitment
■ Foreign professionals: These include foreign professionals, foreign special professionals and foreign senior professionals.
For those seeking technical or specialized work, the bill will ease restrictions on industry sectors and occupational categories,
exempt employers from capitalization requirements, and adopt a points-based system to evaluate the applicant's eligibility
based on salary, work experience, language advantages, education, professional licenses and other assets.
■ Foreign mid-level technicians: These include foreign and overseas Taiwanese students with mid-level technical work skills
who have completed their studies in Taiwan, migrant workers with mid-level technical work skills already working in Taiwan,
or other foreigners with mid-level technical work skills directly recruited from abroad. The proposed salary must meet a
minimum threshold, and the applicant must possess a license or certificate of professional qualification.
■ Overseas compatriots: This category applies to Taiwanese nationals residing overseas without household registration in
Taiwan, who possess ROC nationality in accordance with the Nationality Act and can enter Taiwan on an ROC passport. Rules
on entry permits will be relaxed, and those engaging in professional or mid-level technical work in Taiwan may apply for
residency.
■ Immigrant investors: These include foreigners who invest at least NT$15 million (US$486,000) in a for-profit enterprise
and create at least five local job opportunities, or foreigners who invest at least NT$30 million (US$972,000) in central
government bonds. Qualified investors may obtain permanent residency after three years.

43. Conclusion and Recommendation
To judge whether or not Taiwan is suitable for investment opportunities we used certain parameters,
tools, and reports available from various established organizations.
We looked at political, economic, social, and demographic information to reach our conclusion.
Taiwan’s political status in the past was complicated but is currently stable. Taiwan has a capitalist
economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government
authorities.
Taiwan has a stable economy and hence suitable for investment opportunities from foreign entities. A
foreign investor can purchase property as an individual or through a company.
Taiwanese companies and private individual investors should be allowed to acquire real estate in your
home country or in the country where your company has its main office.
Socially Taiwan is considered a patriarchal society, maintaining the family as its basic foundation.
While many educated Taiwanese speak English, the national language is Mandarin Chinese, with many
also speaking the local Taiwanese (Chinese) language. Varying degrees of English is spoken by many of
the younger generation and the internationally educated.
Taiwan is one of the most urbanized nations in Asia with over 60% of the population living in cities.
Taipei, the capital, houses nearly 13% of the population, or approximately 2.75 million.
The people of Taiwan are well educated and have relevant knowledge of subjects like English and
science. The society is a peaceful one and not very different from other southeast Asian countries. The
cities are well developed, and the working conditions are conducive to conducting business.
In conclusion, after having a look at the economic structure in Taiwan we can say that a few indicators
like the availability of labor forces, growth rates, inflation rates point to the fact that Taiwan is a stable
economy and hence suitable for investment opportunities.

44. THANK YOU FOR YOUR BUSINESS