Across the Taiwan Strait, there is a real appetite for growth, largely fuelled by the tech sector - something that is having a knock-on effect on social enterprises (SEs) that have the potential to fill the gap left by a sluggish public sector.

Spiritually motivated travel is perhaps the oldest form of tourism. In Greater China, Taiwan remains the most vibrant religious culture centre, where centuries-old folk temples, especially in Tainan and Lugang, add colour and beauty to urban landscapes.

Sharing deep cultural and political links, Taiwan and Hong Kong are, in many ways, more closely connected than other parts of Greater China. While their relationship has often strayed into economic rivalry, the two places continue to recognise each other's importance - and hopes are high that there will be a new era of co-operation.

Taipei 101, Taiwan's iconic skyscraper, is undoubtedly significant to Jack Chao, president of Chin Fong Machine Industrial. The company has supplied 80 per cent of the machinery used in Taiwan's liquid crystal display (LCD) screen manufacturing industry. The sheer volume would reach twice the height of Taipei 101 if the press machines were horizontally stacked up together.

From an undulating port terminal for giant cruise ships to a convention centre large enough to exhibit a big yacht, the fluid and unconventional architecture of Asia's New Bay Area in Kaohsiung mirrors Taiwan's renewed take on the economy. It is an approach that is open and aggressive.

Power conversion expert Bull Will is charging its own transformation from a component trading company into an all-in-one design, manufacturing and service provider. The company is keen on continuing its recent evolution by widening its product portfolio and boosting its production capacity.

Looking good is synonymous with doing good for Epopack, a cosmetics packaging manufacturer with a passion for developing stylish yet earth-friendly options. Epopack's efforts are in line with the mainland's 12th five-year plan, which encourages green packaging for consumer goods. Coupled with the government's focus on importing superior packaging equipment and materials, the mainland's packaging industry is forecast to grow annually by 6 per cent until 2015.

As the world's manufacturing hub for industrial electronics, Asia will require more flash memory products in the next four years. Industries such as vehicle, mobile phone and consumer electronics are steadily moving towards serial flash technology. Staying ahead of these market trends, leading Taiwanese flash memory specialist Eon Silicon Solution is boosting serial flash production.

When a group of young specialist engineers back in 1999 needed funding for their cutting-edge projects, Crystal Applied Technology (CAT) was approached by the Taiwanese government to provide support. The fulfilment of the engineers' dreams illuminated the road to success for what later became Taiwan's leading manufacturer of optical electronics products. Shifting its focus to light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in 2003, CAT quickly established itself as an upstream company. These timely decisions paved the way for CAT's rapid growth and propelled it as an integral part of Taiwan's economy.

Chung Hua University (CHU) believes in the transformative power of education to provide a solid foundation for the future of young people in Asia. Through comprehensive educational programmes, CHU opens many opportunities for students to secure jobs that can boost economic development in Taiwan.

Taiwan PLUS Corporation breathes new life into the local stationery industry, revitalising the market with its innovative take on office and school supplies. Honouring its Japanese heritage, Taiwan PLUS marries function and style in creating products that deliver a delightful user experience.

Recognised as the leading credit-checking agency in Taiwan, backed by more than 50 years of experience, China Credit Information Service (CCIS) is a one-stop information source offering a full suite of services. It provides background checks, consumer behaviour study, commercial credit reports, asset appraisal, product trending and market analysis. It also offers advisory services for mergers and acquisitions throughout Taiwan and the mainland.

Showcasing its range of high-quality microphones and amplifiers, Taiwan-based Chiayo Electronics is ready to be heard in the global electronics arena. A leading designer and manufacturer of professional wireless microphone and portable sound systems, Chiayo is backed by more than four decades of development and has gained the confidence of customers worldwide.

Much like how its products fuse components together to make functional, reliable products that are built to last, solder materials specialist Shenmao Group has been instrumental in building and holding together various industries - from automotive to consumer electronics.

Cartoonist David Horsey earlier this year created an image of an anxious Uncle Sam asking a fortune teller, "Can you tell me about my future?" She responds: "Hmm ... I would, but I can't read Chinese."

Rising production costs, coupled with stringent environmental regulations, are changing the textile manufacturing environment in China. Industry players are focusing more on producing strong, innovative and functional textile designs that are compliant with environmental standards. Leading the cutting-edge fabric manufacturing pack, Honmyue Enterprise is expanding its operations to serve manufacturers in Asia and worldwide.

Home to many manufacturing and packaging facilities, China is one of the largest glass markets in the world and a major trend driver in the industry. Rising to the challenge of meeting the demands of this dynamic market, Ta Hsiang Containers explores new techniques to develop next-generation glass applications.

Taiwan's recent regulatory easing allows mainland investors to benefit from partnerships with local financial institutions. With diverse cross-strait trade expanding throughout China, Taiwan Business Bank (TBB) has positioned itself closer to growing businesses on the mainland, offering custom-made financial services targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In August, TBB opened its first mainland branch in Shanghai, with another branch expected to open in Quanzhou.

Connectec Japan is ushering in a new era of semiconductor assembly with packaging technology that can enable next-generation gadgetry. Developed over five years of intense engineering, Connectec's Monster PAC-typeC delivers the high-performance, low-cost combination that the industry has been looking for.

Like the human eye, the patented Video Fire Detection System (VFDS) from global security solutions provider GKB Security accurately recognises fire and smoke images. In 20 seconds, the equipment can sound the alarm, indicate the fire's location and send text messages to concerned parties. Able to support up to 128 closed-circuit TV cameras, VFDS beats traditional fire detectors, which work in five minutes and only in closed spaces.