Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) inaugurated a new Taiwan Trade and Investment Center in Fukuoka on April 21, marking a key step in deepening Taiwan-Japan industrial ties amid growing collaboration spurred by TSMC's flagship chip plant in Kumamoto.
The center is designed to support Taiwanese semiconductor, IT, and advanced tech firms seeking to expand their presence in Japan.
Reports from Nikkei and RKB Mainichi note that the center's primary mission is to assist Taiwanese high-tech companies—especially in semiconductors—in setting up operations in Kyushu. The move builds on momentum from TSMC's Kumamoto investment and aims to strengthen Taiwan-Japan business ties.
Beyond local setup support, the center will provide funding assistance and offer strategic market insights to Taiwanese firms entering Japan.
Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Cynthia Kiang said the new center could become a vital platform for reinforcing Taiwan and Japan's positions in the global value chain, especially as geopolitical tensions reshape supply chains.
Former Japanese Minister Akira Amari, who previously chaired the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)'s Semiconductor Strategy Promotion Council, welcomed the launch and expressed hopes for deeper Taiwan-Japan cooperation in semiconductor technologies and investment.
Expanding Taiwan's global semiconductor footprint
The Fukuoka office follows Taiwan's first overseas trade and investment center, launched in the Czech Republic in December 2024 near Dresden, where TSMC is building its first European chip fab.
In February 2025, Minister of Economic Affairs J.W. Kuo announced plans to open the Fukuoka center to streamline Taiwanese companies' market entry and operations in Japan.
Kuo noted that the initiative would consolidate government resources to promote semiconductor supply chain cooperation and support downstream sectors such as AI, robotics, and drones.
Although the center's official launch timeline and governance model are still being finalized, it is currently operating as an extension of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)'s Fukuoka office.
Meanwhile, looming US semiconductor tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump are injecting uncertainty into regional investment plans.
Industry insiders in Taiwan and Japan say many Taiwanese firms are adopting a wait-and-see posture, concerned that US trade policy may soon impose tariffs on Japan-made chips exported to the US.
Broader tariff risks could further cool enthusiasm for cross-border semiconductor investments between Taiwan and Japan.
Article edited by Jack Wu
