The Department of International Business of STUST held the 2021 Asia-Pacific Regional Forum" on April 27. The major topic of the seminar was "Business Opportunities in the Post-Pandemic Era." It was jointly organized by the Chinese Taipei Pacific Economic Cooperation Committee (CTPECC) and the Department of International Business, co-sponsored by Tainan City Industrial and Commercial Development and Investment Strategy Association and Tainan City SME Honorary Instructors Association.

[Deng-Maw Lu, President of STUST, was delivering a speech at the “Business Opportunities in the Post-Pandemic Era" seminar, held by the 2021 Asia-Pacific Regional Forum.]

Since the beginning of 2020, the spread of COVID-19 has brought a severe impact on the world, with stock markets falling, supply chains cut off, and companies on the verge of bankruptcy. Taiwan’s economic structure has always been based on small and medium-sized enterprises and is limited by the available resources and scale of operations. It has been severely affected by the impact of the pandemic. At the beginning of the epidemic, many companies were caught in short-term difficulties. With the development and popularization of vaccines starting this year, the demand in the international market has shown signs of recovery. In view of this, the theme of this year's forum—Business Opportunities in the Post-Pandemic Era—was very much in line with the current situation of Taiwan's economic recovery.

[A group photo in the "Business Opportunities in the Post-Pandemic Era" seminar, organized by the Department of International Business, STUST, for the 2021 Asia-Pacific Regional Forum.]

The keynote speech in the seminar was delivered by Director Ming-De Sun of the Prosperity Forecast Center of the Taiwan Economic Research Institute, who analyzed the economic situation at home and abroad in the post-pandemic era and used many practical cases to let the guests understand the opportunities and challenges of Taiwan's small and medium-sized enterprises in the post-epidemic era. Three guests were invited as interlocutors for each session of the forum: Secretary-General Zi-Chin Chou of CTPECC focused on global and regional trends in the post-pandemic era, Assistant Researcher Ming-Yan Chang of the International Department of Taiwan Economics Institute had an Incisive analysis on ABAC dynamics and prospects in 2021, and Chairman of Quanyu Industrial Co., Ltd. used the textile industry as an example to talk about the development direction of small and medium-sized enterprises after the pandemic. This forum brought together important people from the domestic industry, government, and academia to discuss business opportunities in the post-pandemic era, providing many valuable international experiences and suggestions. They greatly helped enhance the international vision of the guests and brought the attendees important messages and knowledge.

[The "Business Opportunities in the Post-Pandemic Era" seminar, held by 2021 Asia-Pacific Regional Forum, invited important professionals to give speeches: Researcher Zhen-Sheng He from the International Department of the Taiwan Economic Research Institute (first from left), Chairman Jin-Fa Huang of Quanyu Industrial Co., Ltd. (second from left), Secretary-General Zi-Chin Chou of CTPECC (second from right), and Assistant Researcher Ming-Yan Chang of the International Department of Taiwan Economics Institute (first from right).]

In his speech, Dr. Deng-Maw Lu, President of STUST, said that the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (CTPECC) has organized Pacific Business Forums in various places in recent years, selecting current major issues every year and bringing together important domestic industry, government, and academic circles. It is hoped to thereby establish a cross-domain communication bridge, form a platform for knowledge dissemination and promotion, and at the same time develop feasible countermeasures to make specific contributions to my country's international participation. STUST is honored to have this opportunity to become a partner of the Taiwan Economics Institute and CTPECC in southern Taiwan, and continue to co-organize this event every year. Starting this year, in order to expand the scope of topics, the name of the forum has been changed to the Asia-Pacific Regional Forum. It is hoped that STUST will continue to cooperate with the CTPECC team to create a better future.