Saxony Visits Taiwan and Vietnam

This is intended to help further diversify Saxony’s international business and reduce one-sided dependencies in supply chains. The trip is being organized in collaboration with Saxony Trade & Invest Corp. (WFS).

In Taiwan, where Minister Panter will be from August 30 to September 2, the focus will be on the semiconductor industry and attracting investors. Dirk Panter: “Taiwan is a global leader in the semiconductor and high-tech industries. The Free State of Saxony will position itself there as a high-performance technology and investment hub. In doing so, the Free State is responding to Taiwanese companies’ interest in European locations following the construction of a new chip factory by the Taiwanese semiconductor group TSMC as part of the ESMC joint venture in Dresden, the growing momentum in semiconductor investment, and, not least, the need to build resilient supply chains.”

In Taipei—as he did last year—Dirk Panter will attend SEMICON Taiwan, one of Asia’s most important semiconductor trade shows. At the EU Investment Forum in Taipei, he will deliver a keynote address on, among other topics, the successful establishment of chip manufacturers in Saxony. He will also take part in a press conference on the topic “Saxony meets Taiwan”—a cultural exchange between Saxony and Taiwan—and attend the “Saxony Networking Dinner.” In addition, meetings with investors during SEMICON and discussions with industry associations in Taiwan are planned, among other activities. 

WFS Managing Director Thomas Horn adds: “SEMICON Taiwan offers us the ideal platform in Asia to present Saxony as a business location—with its diverse expertise, attractive sites, and opportunities for cooperation—at the German Pavilion, together with the cities of Dresden, Leipzig, and Chemnitz. We look forward to sharing the positive experiences of companies already established in the region—including those from Taiwan—with potential investors and partners. Furthermore, we actively seek and foster exchanges with other stakeholders from various industrial sectors, as the areas of overlap between Taiwan and Saxony extend far beyond the semiconductor industry.”

From September 3 to 8, he will visit Vietnam, where the focus will be on environmental and energy technology, water management, infrastructure, and skilled labor. “Vietnam is a strategically important growth market for Saxony's companies. The country’s economic dynamism opens up opportunities for cooperation, technology transfer, new sales markets, and the establishment of new production sites. Saxony will position itself as an innovative and reliable partner,” said Panter.

“With our delegation trip to Vietnam, we aim to create new prospects for both regions and provide targeted impetus for potential partnerships. Vietnam offers enormous potential—and we are convinced that Saxony’s expertise and technological strength are in demand there,” added Horn.

To kick off the trip, Saxony’s Minister of Economic Affairs will hold talks in the capital, Hanoi, with representatives from the Ministries of Trade and Construction/Infrastructure, as well as government agencies responsible for railway technology and skilled labor. Visits to several companies and meetings with investors are also planned there.

Dirk Panter will then travel on to Hoa Binh, where he will tour the water treatment plant operated by the Leipzig-based company Aone Deutschland AG. The trip to Vietnam will conclude in Ho Chi Minh City, where Panter plans to meet with the city’s chairman and tour infrastructure projects.

The last time a delegation led by Saxony’s Minister of Economic Affairs visited Vietnam—a country with a population of 100 million—was in 2018.

• Saxony’s Foreign Trade Balance with Taiwan and Vietnam

In 2025, Taiwan moved up one spot in the ranking of Saxony’s export partners to 11th place. Exports from Saxony to Taiwan rose by 9.8 percent compared to the previous year, reaching a total value of 1.74 billion euros. This was Saxony’s third-best export performance with Taiwan ever. By far the largest share was accounted for by electrical engineering products (around 1.2 billion euros).

In Saxony’s import figures for 2025, Taiwan rose four spots to 12th place. Imports increased by 31.3 percent, reaching a value of 891.7 million euros—the second-best import result with Taiwan on record. The most in-demand goods were electrical engineering and mechanical engineering products, bicycles, chemical intermediates, and iron, sheet metal, and metal goods.

In 2025, Saxon companies exported goods worth 120 million euros to Vietnam, particularly chemical intermediates and finished products, as well as machinery and automotive products. This was the fourth-best result in the past 15 years.

Imports from Vietnam to Saxony were significantly higher than exports and reached a new record high with a value of 351.3 million euros. The majority consisted of electrical engineering products, mechanical engineering products, and measurement, control, and regulation technology products. Clothing made of silk and synthetic fibers was also in demand. In a comparison of countries, Vietnam ranked 23rd.