Yung-san Lee, Chairman, SAA CT

The ACIIA® community has become stronger: The Securities Analysts Association, Chinese Taipei (SAA, CT) has officially become the 26th member of the ACIIA. SAA, CT is a strong society with an important role in the Taiwan banking and securities industry. Kiyoto Hagiwara, ACIIA Chairman, and the board are delighted about the new membership.

For the 400 members of the SAA, CT, it is also an important step, confirmed its chairman Dr Yung-San Lee, "Over its 20 year history, the SAA, CT has made significant contributions to research, information collection, international interaction and the sound development of the Taiwan securities markets. However, the intense competition worldwide and free market information obtained on internet has radically changed the working environment of our securities analysts. Our professionals must strengthen their expertise to guarantee that they provide a truly value-added service. We see the CIIA education program as the best designation to prepare our analysts for the challenges ahead".

Preparing for ACIIA membership and introducing the CIIA exams in Taiwan was an extensive process that included consultation with SAA, CT members, the local securities commission and the Securities and Futures Institute (SFI); an administrative body for 13 qualification examinations which will also be responsible for CIIA® exams in Taiwan. The SAA, CT local examination program is also in the process of being accredited by the ACIIA so that well-qualified local professionals can sit directly for the CIIA final level examinations. In February, together with the ACIIA Chairman, Kiyoto Hagiwara, the CIIA project was officially launched to the Taiwan investment community at large via a presentation on the CIIA® to participants from banks, securities firms, investment advisory corporations, and the media. The first CIIA examinations are tentatively scheduled to take place in Taipei in September 2005.

The SAA, CT expects the CIIA to play an important role in the further development of their local industry. "The stable and future development of our securities market rests largely on the quality of the securities analysts" confirmed Dr Lee. "This requires continuous training and advanced education to ensure that our professionals can take an active role in internationalising our securities market, interact and cooperate with securities analysts worldwide and attract more capital to our economic development".

ACIIA representatives meet with the Securities and Futures Institute, Chinese Taipei (SFI)