Tainan Delays Asset Management Hub MOU as Regulators Seek Clarity
The Tainan City Government is seeking to establish a local zone under Taiwan’s broader push to develop an Asian asset management hub, with major financial institutions expected to participate through cooperation agreements. The proposal matters because it would require alignment between local development plans and central financial oversight, including a clear legal basis, workable regulatory arrangements and coordination among the authorities responsible for implementation.
Tainan postponed a press conference scheduled for Sept. 17 to sign memorandums of understanding with financial firms, citing unresolved issues involving central and local regulations. A new signing date and investment amount have not been disclosed. The Financial Supervisory Commission struck a cautious tone, saying it had yet to receive a concrete plan and that the proposal was not sufficiently mature, leaving the project dependent on further regulatory integration and government-level coordination.
All Coverage
2 original reportsThe Backstory
The history behind this eventTainan Offers Rent, Salary Subsidies Ahead of Sept. 17 Finance MOU
Tainan City Government is promoting a local zone under Taiwan’s Asian Asset Management Center initiative, aiming to develop the southern city into a wealth-management gateway. The municipality is offering two incentives — rent and salary subsidies — to reduce setup and staffing costs for financial institutions. The size of the subsidies and detailed eligibility rules have not yet been disclosed.
The city’s investment-promotion event drew major financial holding companies as well as securities investment trust and consulting firms. Tainan plans to hold a press conference on Sept. 17 to sign memorandums of understanding with financial-sector participants, marking a key step toward bringing institutions into the zone. The Financial Supervisory Commission has commented on the planned signing, while the full participant list, investment amounts and subsidy caps remain pending.
Taiwan FSC Asks 14 Financial Groups to Set Cross-Agency Priorities for Asian Asset Hub
Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission established the Financial Development and Asian Asset Management Center Promotion Council in September 2025 as part of efforts to turn Taiwan into an Asian asset-management hub. The council brings together 14 financial holding companies each quarter to discuss macro-financial and asset-management policies. It aims to translate the industry's practical needs into regulatory easing and cross-agency coordination, which could determine whether high-net-worth clients and their capital remain in Taiwan.
On May 28, 2026, the FSC convened the council's second-quarter meeting, its fourth since the body's establishment, and asked the 14 financial groups to submit a priority list for cross-agency coordination. Discussions covered permitting interbranch identity verification and electronic signatures, raising the cap on the number of investors in private funds, financing secured by portfolios of financial assets, and exempting single-family offices from asset-management licensing requirements in line with Hong Kong and Singapore. No additional budget or funding amount was announced at the meeting.
Subscribe to Mark Radar Weekly
Every Friday, the week's strongest signals in your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.
If you search news on Google, you can set Mark Radar as a preferred source—our coverage will show up more often in your results. Set as preferred source on Google →