Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle, U.S.A.

Germany Taiwan Commercial Council-Junior Chapter (GTCC JC) held its 2026 annual convention from August 21 to 23 in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt. The program featured company visits, public affairs discussions, personal finance sessions, and information on resources for overseas Taiwanese businesses. It drew more than 30 participants from across Germany, including young entrepreneurs, members of the Taiwanese community, speakers, guests, and staff. President Li-Yu Chen of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands Junior Chapter also traveled to Germany for the event, highlighting the growing cross-border connections among young Taiwanese professionals in Europe.

The convention combined site visits with thematic discussions, offering participants a broader understanding of Germany's business and social environment. The group visited Henkell, a leading German sparkling wine producer, where they learned about European sparkling wine brands, production processes, and business development. They also toured Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport, gaining firsthand insight into large-scale aviation infrastructure, airport operations and the transportation sector as a whole. 

Another highlight was a visit to the Hessian State Chancellery. Staff introduced the structure of the state government, the role of the Chancellery, and Hesse's representative offices in Berlin and Brussels. Participants then joined English- or German-language guided tours of the building, gaining a deeper understanding of how local government operates in Germany and of the local community through perspectives on the political system, public administration, and architectural history.

The program also included a networking session and a financial planning seminar titled "Protecting Purchasing Power in an Era of Inflation", covering savings, investment, and retirement planning in Germany.

GTCC JC President Matthias Wu introduced resources provided by the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), including support for overseas Taiwanese business organizations, economic and trade-related training programs, industrial upgrading programs, the Overseas Credit Guarantee Fund (TAIWAN), and the i Compatriot Card. He encouraged young Taiwanese in Germany to make full use of these services. Calvin Wu, President of the Germany Taiwan Commercial Council (GTCC), and Counselor Hong-Ying Lin of the Taipei Representative Office in the Federal Republic of Germany, Frankfurt Office, also attended and exchanged views with participants.

President Matthias Wu said he was pleased to see young participants travel from across Germany, as well as partners from the Netherlands. He expressed hope that GTCC JC would continue to serve as a platform connecting young Taiwanese across Germany and Europe, facilitating network-building and experience-sharing across regions and borders while deepening cooperation among young Taiwanese in Europe.