TAIPEI: Taiwan Stock Exchange Chairman Schive Chi said mainland companies may list on the island as early as next year as the two sides move ahead with plans for closer financial ties.

The plan depends on completion of an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in the cross-Straits talks scheduled to start this month and would be a "good opportunity" for mainland companies, Schive said in a telephone interview in Taipei yesterday.

The mainland and Taiwan last month agreed to boost access to each other's banks, insurers and brokerages.