Kaohsiung Special Zone's Business Gradually Expanding Nationwide, FSC to Explain Special Legislation by End of July
Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) announced that the Kaohsiung Special Zone's Asset Under Management (AUM) has reached NT$455.9 billion with 3,736 clients. Some mature operations will gradually expand nationwide, and the FSC plans to explain the direction of related special legislation by the end of July.
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- 📰 Published: May 11, 2026 at 19:17
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Taipei, May 11 (CNA) FSC Chairman Peng Jin-Lung recently stated that as of the end of March this year, the Kaohsiung Special Zone's Asset Under Management (AUM) reached NT$455.9 billion, with 3,736 clients. The FSC indicated that after the launch of the Kaohsiung Special Zone, financial institutions have accelerated talent and system building. Some mature operations will gradually expand to be applicable nationwide, and the direction of related special legislation is expected to be announced by the end of July.
The Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee today reviewed the FSC's budget proposal for 2026 and conducted inquiries. The Kaohsiung Special Zone was launched in July 2025. Kuomintang Legislator Lai Shyh-Bao expressed concern that the Kaohsiung Special Zone primarily promotes services for wealthy individuals, including family offices, and questioned how it will continue to be promoted in the future to avoid the perception that policies are only for the rich.
Peng Jin-Lung responded that high-net-worth business is only one part of the Asia Asset Management Center, not the entirety. For example, the Taiwan Individual Savings Account (TISA), launched in July 2025, is available to the general public. Taiwan's overall AUM has grown by NT$8 trillion in the past two years, increasing to NT$40.63 trillion by the end of March. The goal is to double Taiwan's AUM from US$1 trillion to US$2 trillion within six years. Facing decades of development in Hong Kong and Singapore, Taiwan must catch up quickly.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lai Hui-Yuan was concerned that 21 banks are involved in high-net-worth business, with approximately 23,000 clients, averaging only over 1,000 clients per bank, questioning if this can support market development.
Peng Jin-Lung pointed out that the current AUM scale is certainly not enough and there is room for growth. However, considering the timeline for Taiwan's opening of private banking business, the client growth rate is within an acceptable range. He expects that as the Kaohsiung Special Zone can provide services previously unavailable in Taiwan, the number of high-net-worth clients will continue to increase.
Peng Jin-Lung first revealed at the 2026 County and City Policy Briefing Kaohsiung debut event on May 9 that the Kaohsiung Special Zone, launched in July 2025, had 3,736 clients and an AUM of NT$455.9 billion by the end of March 2026, exceeding expectations.
Regarding the next stage of Kaohsiung Special Zone's development, Peng Jin-Lung explained that higher-risk operations will be piloted in the Kaohsiung Special Zone. As financial institutions complete their talent and system building, some mature operations will gradually be relaxed to be conducted nationwide.
In addition, under the current FSC supervisory framework, if there is no insurance interest, trustees generally cannot directly purchase insurance policies for beneficiaries. Legislators expressed concern about this regulatory barrier. Peng Jin-Lung said that in addition to investment products, insurance also plays a role in wealth transfer, and he has asked the Insurance Bureau to study the feasibility of introducing foreign experience.
As the Kaohsiung Special Zone approaches its one-year anniversary in June, the FSC stated that it will consolidate feedback from workshops on private banking, family offices, and offshore banking unit (OBU) wealth management. It is expected to announce which Kaohsiung Special Zone operations will be expanded nationwide and the direction of the special legislation by the end of July. (Editor: Pan Yi-Ching) 1150511
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The Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee today reviewed the FSC's budget proposal for 2026 and conducted inquiries. The Kaohsiung Special Zone was launched in July 2025. Kuomintang Legislator Lai Shyh-Bao expressed concern that the Kaohsiung Special Zone primarily promotes services for wealthy individuals, including family offices, and questioned how it will continue to be promoted in the future to avoid the perception that policies are only for the rich.
Peng Jin-Lung responded that high-net-worth business is only one part of the Asia Asset Management Center, not the entirety. For example, the Taiwan Individual Savings Account (TISA), launched in July 2025, is available to the general public. Taiwan's overall AUM has grown by NT$8 trillion in the past two years, increasing to NT$40.63 trillion by the end of March. The goal is to double Taiwan's AUM from US$1 trillion to US$2 trillion within six years. Facing decades of development in Hong Kong and Singapore, Taiwan must catch up quickly.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Lai Hui-Yuan was concerned that 21 banks are involved in high-net-worth business, with approximately 23,000 clients, averaging only over 1,000 clients per bank, questioning if this can support market development.
Peng Jin-Lung pointed out that the current AUM scale is certainly not enough and there is room for growth. However, considering the timeline for Taiwan's opening of private banking business, the client growth rate is within an acceptable range. He expects that as the Kaohsiung Special Zone can provide services previously unavailable in Taiwan, the number of high-net-worth clients will continue to increase.
Peng Jin-Lung first revealed at the 2026 County and City Policy Briefing Kaohsiung debut event on May 9 that the Kaohsiung Special Zone, launched in July 2025, had 3,736 clients and an AUM of NT$455.9 billion by the end of March 2026, exceeding expectations.
Regarding the next stage of Kaohsiung Special Zone's development, Peng Jin-Lung explained that higher-risk operations will be piloted in the Kaohsiung Special Zone. As financial institutions complete their talent and system building, some mature operations will gradually be relaxed to be conducted nationwide.
In addition, under the current FSC supervisory framework, if there is no insurance interest, trustees generally cannot directly purchase insurance policies for beneficiaries. Legislators expressed concern about this regulatory barrier. Peng Jin-Lung said that in addition to investment products, insurance also plays a role in wealth transfer, and he has asked the Insurance Bureau to study the feasibility of introducing foreign experience.
As the Kaohsiung Special Zone approaches its one-year anniversary in June, the FSC stated that it will consolidate feedback from workshops on private banking, family offices, and offshore banking unit (OBU) wealth management. It is expected to announce which Kaohsiung Special Zone operations will be expanded nationwide and the direction of the special legislation by the end of July. (Editor: Pan Yi-Ching) 1150511
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download CNA's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.