New Era for Taiwan-US Trade: Academia and Industry Advocate for Leasing Industry to Help SMEs Break Through
Amidst the growth of the semiconductor industry and challenges faced by SMEs, Taiwan's leasing industry is playing a crucial role by offering more flexible financing than banks. This support aids SMEs' overseas expansion, prevents industrial hollowing-out, and is expected to be a breakthrough for SMEs in the new Taiwan-US trade landscape.
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- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 22:04
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 22:31 (26 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 01:23 (2h 51m after Collected)
Taipei, April 29 (CNA) — Chailease Holding Chief Strategy Officer Liao Ying-chih stated that while related industries like power supply are booming due to the semiconductor cluster effect, traditional industries are facing many challenges. At this critical moment, the leasing and financing industry can provide more flexible funding than banks, maintaining the momentum of Taiwan's 1.715 million SMEs and playing a foundational role in stabilizing the industrial chain.
The Taipei Leasing Association hosted a seminar in late April titled "New Era for Corporate Financing under Taiwan-US Tariffs and Investment Agreements," inviting industry and academia to discuss coping strategies. Participants concluded that leasing and financing companies can flexibly provide equipment and financial support, consolidating the industrial chain foundation, and serving as a critical defense line to prevent industrial hollowing-out, unemployment, and widening social risks.
Chen Hung-ta, Director of the Financial Stability Center at Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance, pointed out that the explosion of AI technology has exacerbated the imbalance in industrial structure, leading to a decline in overall demand and further deteriorating the operating environment for SMEs. Compared to traditional banks that rely on collateral like real estate for lending, the leasing industry can offer flexible support to SMEs through "lease-to-own."
He cited examples where many AI startups in the US flexibly raise capital through private equity funds and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), a valuable innovative financial model to learn from.
Chen Jui-hsing, General Manager of Chailease Finance, stated that large technology companies currently monopolize funding sources and top talent, putting SMEs at a disadvantage in resource competition. Facing risks, large enterprises can quickly pivot after trial and error, while SMEs have low tolerance for error and find it difficult to adapt. Chailease, through supply chain integration, introduces mature and stable equipment to customers, lowering the threshold for digital transformation.
Professor Yeh Kuo-chun of National Taiwan University's Graduate Institute of National Development and Jean Monnet Chair indicated that according to long-term tracking surveys, exchange rates and tariffs have shifted Taiwan's economic focus from China to the US. However, when mid- and downstream industries go to the US to set up factories for risk hedging, they often face a "dilemma" where US banks are unwilling to lend and local Taiwanese banks are unable to provide support. At this point, the flexible intervention of the leasing industry becomes crucial. This is not only commercial support but also an important defense line against unemployment and social problems caused by industrial hollowing-out.
Liu Meng-chun, Director of the First Research Division at Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, analyzed that Taiwan's past "large factory leadership, peripheral diffusion" concentric circle industrial model is difficult to implement in the US. It is not easy to replicate in the high-wage and strict labor rights environment of the US. Collaboration with local academic and research institutions should be pursued, following an innovative R&D and commercialization path.
He pointed out that on the financial front, in addition to the government promoting banks to provide US$250 billion in credit guarantees, the leasing industry, with its characteristic of "financing goods," can serve a different customer base than banks, providing support to SMEs. This allows Taiwanese businesses to deepen their overseas layouts and break through fierce competition. (Editor: Pan Chih-min) 1150429
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The Taipei Leasing Association hosted a seminar in late April titled "New Era for Corporate Financing under Taiwan-US Tariffs and Investment Agreements," inviting industry and academia to discuss coping strategies. Participants concluded that leasing and financing companies can flexibly provide equipment and financial support, consolidating the industrial chain foundation, and serving as a critical defense line to prevent industrial hollowing-out, unemployment, and widening social risks.
Chen Hung-ta, Director of the Financial Stability Center at Taiwan Academy of Banking and Finance, pointed out that the explosion of AI technology has exacerbated the imbalance in industrial structure, leading to a decline in overall demand and further deteriorating the operating environment for SMEs. Compared to traditional banks that rely on collateral like real estate for lending, the leasing industry can offer flexible support to SMEs through "lease-to-own."
He cited examples where many AI startups in the US flexibly raise capital through private equity funds and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), a valuable innovative financial model to learn from.
Chen Jui-hsing, General Manager of Chailease Finance, stated that large technology companies currently monopolize funding sources and top talent, putting SMEs at a disadvantage in resource competition. Facing risks, large enterprises can quickly pivot after trial and error, while SMEs have low tolerance for error and find it difficult to adapt. Chailease, through supply chain integration, introduces mature and stable equipment to customers, lowering the threshold for digital transformation.
Professor Yeh Kuo-chun of National Taiwan University's Graduate Institute of National Development and Jean Monnet Chair indicated that according to long-term tracking surveys, exchange rates and tariffs have shifted Taiwan's economic focus from China to the US. However, when mid- and downstream industries go to the US to set up factories for risk hedging, they often face a "dilemma" where US banks are unwilling to lend and local Taiwanese banks are unable to provide support. At this point, the flexible intervention of the leasing industry becomes crucial. This is not only commercial support but also an important defense line against unemployment and social problems caused by industrial hollowing-out.
Liu Meng-chun, Director of the First Research Division at Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, analyzed that Taiwan's past "large factory leadership, peripheral diffusion" concentric circle industrial model is difficult to implement in the US. It is not easy to replicate in the high-wage and strict labor rights environment of the US. Collaboration with local academic and research institutions should be pursued, following an innovative R&D and commercialization path.
He pointed out that on the financial front, in addition to the government promoting banks to provide US$250 billion in credit guarantees, the leasing industry, with its characteristic of "financing goods," can serve a different customer base than banks, providing support to SMEs. This allows Taiwanese businesses to deepen their overseas layouts and break through fierce competition. (Editor: Pan Chih-min) 1150429
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.