Soho China, a Beijing commercial property developer, has expressed interest in shopping centre and hotel projects in Taiwan after a four-day visit to the island by the company's chairman last month.
Soho China chairman Pan Shiyi said yesterday that Taiwan's residential property market was less attractive as it had been saturated.
'The quality is good but transactions have been few as people are unwilling to buy new homes amid the poor economic sentiment,' he said, adding that there were many empty public housing buildings.
Shopping centres and hotels, however, are expected to benefit from an influx of mainland visitors.
Despite Soho China's focus on commercial property, Mr Pan said offices were not its first choice. 'It may not be a good time to develop office projects until the economy improves after the 'three-links' policy.'
Taiwan's president-elect Ma Ying-jeou has promised to adopt the policy - which refers to direct mail, trade and transport links with the mainland - in July after he takes office on May 20.
Soho China has not identified any projects inTaiwan for investment and has no plans to bid for the high-profile Agora Garden hotel site that comes up for auction at the end of this month.