Taiwan’s ETF surge grabs global attention during Taiwan Weeks events

Taiwan's exchange-traded fund (ETF) market has surged into prominence.

BlackRock's Managing Director and Head of APAC iShares Nicholas Peach stated in October that Taiwan's ETF penetration ranks the highest in the world, per Commercial Times. The expansion of Taiwan's assets at a compound annual growth rate of roughly 35% since 2019 is a testament to the remarkable market participation of Taiwanese investors and their keen appetite for emerging investment opportunities, he added.

Global Views Monthly also quoted ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas of Bloomberg Intelligence, saying that 60% of Taiwanese now hold ETFs, which he said was a striking figure that eclipses ownership rates in the US and also outpaces every other major market worldwide.

In October, Taiwan held a series of ETF investment events amid a surge in the ETF market.

Kaohsiung's ETF Investment Expo

From October 17 to 19, Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan hosted a series of ETF investment events. The ETF Investment Expo, which was part of the 2025 Taiwan Weeks, a government-backed initiative promoting Taiwan’s financial and investment sectors, was jointly organized by the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC), Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE), Taiwan Depository & Clearing Corporation (TDCC), and the Securities Investment Trust & Consulting Association (SITCA).

The event drew more than 23,000 visitors over the three days, UDN reported.

The Expo brought together 13 leading financial institutions, including Fubon and CTBC, and staged 22 themed seminars through Oct. 19, forming one of the largest dedicated platforms for ETF dialogue and collaboration on the island.

At the opening ceremony on October 17th, FSC chair Dr. Peng Jin-lung (彭金隆), Kaohsiung deputy mayor Lo Ta-sheng (羅達生), and TWSE chair Lin Hsiu-ming (林修銘) took the stage. Taiwan's government hopes to establish itself as Asia's next asset management center.

The FSC's Peng highlighted that ETFs, valued for their transparency, cost efficiency, and operational agility, have become a cornerstone of financial innovation and a favorite among investors.


Peng noted that in recent years, a growing number of international asset managers have set up operations in Taiwan, affirming the island's readiness to assume a leading role in the Asia Pacific asset management landscape, per Commercial Times.

The FSC, he added, would continue to refine regulations and foster the issuance of active, multi-asset, and sustainable ETFs to meet increasingly diverse investor needs.

Kaohsiung's deputy mayor Lo emphasized Kaohsiung's evolving identity as a city that integrates port logistics, high technology, and finance. He added that Kaohsiung seeks to attract global capital, stimulate employment, and accelerate the upgrading of local industries.

TWSE chair Lin noted that Taiwan's ETF market is the third largest in Asia, underscoring strong investor confidence in the domestic market.

The Expo unfolded across five principal exhibition zones, including the ETF Pavilion and the Kaohsiung Zone, blending interactive games with educational experiences. Deputy mayor Lo also said in his opening remarks that the event would offer residents new insights into modern investing.

Meanwhile in Taipei

On October 16th, the Asia Capital Markets Summit Forum was held in Le Méridien hotel in Taipei. The event, which was organized by FSC, TWSE, TDCC, SITCA, as well as Taipei Exchange and Taiwan Futures Exchange, was also part of the Taiwan Weeks program.

Experts from Tokyo Stock Exchange, Nasdaq FinTech, Bloomberg, and AllianceBernstein spoke at the event about Asian capital markets, ETFs, and investment.

FSC vice chair Chuang Hsou-yuan (莊琇媛) said that Taiwan has the potential to fulfill its aspiration to become Asia's next asset management center. She quoted a UBS report released in September stating that the island's average per-capita wealth reached US$310,000, ranking 15th worldwide and second in Asia, per UDN.


She added that Taiwan's total market capitalization surpassed US$3 trillion, making it the eighth-largest stock market globally, and that there are more than 800,000 high-net-worth (HNW) individuals in Taiwan.

Other speakers, such as Nasdaq FinTech's vice president a R.G. Manalac, and MSCI's executive director, Priscilla Luk, talked about Taiwan's strength and potential in technology. Taipei Exchange's chairman Chien Lih-Chung (簡立忠) added that the asset size of Taiwan's bond ETF market ranks number one in the Asia Pacific region.

Bloomberg hosted its own ETFs in Depth Forum in Taipei. Taiwan's ETF market ranks number three in Asia, only after China and Japan, per Bloomberg statistics.

Taiwan’s ETF market has rapidly matured into a key pillar of the island’s financial landscape, driven by strong investor participation, international interest, and government support, positioning Taiwan as a rising hub for asset management in the Asia-Pacific region.