02.15.2001
Gov't suggests easing of regulations on foreign purchase of land

• The Ministry of the Interior (MoI) is proposing to ease regulations governing the purchase of land by foreign investors in order to invigorate Taiwan's ailing property market.

• It is proposed to allow foreign investors to directly purchase property and land without first having to set up a company in Taiwan. The proposals also call for the lifting of the requirement that the land must be used for factory, shop, residential, church, school, embassy, charity or graveyard purposes.

• The MoI would retain the 'equal benefit' regulation, however, which means that only those countries which allow Taiwanese investors access to their property markets will benefit from the new proposals.

• We anticipate that the implementation of any such measures will encourage more foreign investors to take a stake in the property markets here, despite poor rates of return on real estate investments.

BennyLo@Primasia.com +886-[0]2-2547-8869