TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Dwight Howard, a former NBA star, received Taiwan's employment 'Gold Card' (臺灣就業金卡) on Monday (Aug. 29) and will join the Taiwan Mustangs in The Asian Tournament (TAT, 亞洲巡迴賽).
Howard, known for his stellar basketball career, has multiple NBA All-Star selections and won an Olympic gold medal for the U.S. in 2008. His participation in TAT this year will offer more interaction opportunities with Taiwanese fans and players. The employment 'Gold Card,' launched on Feb. 8, 2018, attracts international professionals by combining work permits, residency visas, Alien Resident Certificates, and re-entry permits into one convenient document.
Howard applied for his card at the National Immigration Agency's (NIA, 移民署) Taipei City Service Center on Monday, drawing crowds of fans. Su Hui-wen (蘇慧雯), director of the Taipei service center, noted that the 'Gold Card' covers ten fields, including technology, economy, education, culture, sports, finance, law, architecture, national defense, and project consultation, with digital fields added last year.
Since its inception, the 'Gold Card' has been issued to 10,434 recipients by the end of June, offering benefits like tax incentives and health insurance, making Taiwan an attractive destination for global talent. Su expressed hopes that this initiative would further Taiwan's internationalization and attract more exceptional talents to the island
