TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Eight major business groups in Taiwan issued a joint statement Thursday (May 15) urging legislators to approve a NT$100 billion (US$3.32 billion) budget allocation to Taiwan Power Company (Taipower, 台電), the island's state-owned electricity provider. Industry leaders cited mounting pressures from escalating U.S. tariffs and volatile currency exchange rates as driving factors behind their appeal. The coalition emphasized that financial stability for Taipower is essential to maintain consistent electricity pricing and shield both industrial sectors and household consumers from economic harm.
The business alliance highlighted how electricity price volatility disproportionately impacts vulnerable small enterprises, particularly street food vendors and noodle shops that operate on thin margins throughout Taiwan's cities. Their statement urged politicians across party lines to set aside differences and prioritize economic stability for citizens. Industry representatives cautioned that domestic political disputes would further undermine Taiwan's export sectors already struggling with global market headwinds.
The unprecedented joint appeal comes from Taiwan's most influential business associations, including the Chinese National Federation of Industries (中華民國全國工業總會), the General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China (中華民國全國商業總會), the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (工商協進會), and the National Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (全國中小企業總會). These organizations collectively represent thousands of companies across manufacturing, retail, and service sectors. Their unified message emphasizes that Taipower's financial health remains fundamental to Taiwan's economic resilience and continued growth prospects. ◼
