March 27,2010

SL Delegation Joins Visayas Trade And Investment Mission To Taiwan

By Quirico M. Gorpido, Jr.
Maasin City, Southern Leyte-Five representatives comprising the Southern Leyte d
elegation, together with other 13 delegates from four Visayas regions, have join
ed the recent seven-day Visayas Trade and Investment Mission to Taiwan.
The Visayas business mission has constituted regions 5, 6, 7 and 8. Of the to
tal 18 delegates, 2 were from Eastern Samar,6 from region V1,5 from region V111
and another 5 from Southern Leyte.
The Trade and Investment mission is to promote the Visayas regions as primary
destination for Taiwanese investments in agri-aquaculture, information and comm
unication technology, light manufacturing and as a lucrative market with which t
o source consumer products and raw materials.
Also the mission, our source said, intends to acquire some information and ac
cess to the latest technological developments in Taiwan in the field of agricult
ure and aqua-culture that can be operational in the Visayas.
SP Albert Esclamado, Chairman Committee on Tourism, one of the SL delegates,
informed that for the province of Southern Leyte the concern for Trade and Inves
tment were on eco-tourism, aquaculture and processing utilization of coconut pro
ducts.
Investment seminar, forum and business to business meeting were conducted dur
ing their stay in Taiwan whose speakers were mostly potential investors and big
businessmen.
The Visayas delegations were also having their field trips and visitations to
various firms and establishments in that country. Like the Kashiung Software Pa
rk and Food Shows, marine culture farms and Koi farms at Pingtung County, Clone
International Biotechnology,Inc.,Hay Long Corp(main products are beverages),Firs
t GMP foods manufacturer and GMP model Plant, Whitewood House(specializes in the
production of cakes and sweets).
Other establishments that they were able to visit were the Pingtung Agricult
ural Biotechnological Park-233 hectares government-initiated Research & Developm
ent and Investment facility and the only Science Park in Taiwan dedicated to agr
icultural purposes. Research and Development support with a maximum of 50% subsi
dy for R & D payment expense; expense subsidies which commissioned academic inst
itutions to help research.
Advanced Green Biotechnology, Inc., founded by Feng –Jhih Liu, who was engag
ed in a real state construction business in China. Afflicted with cancer that sp
read to his lungs he stopped construction business and return to Taiwan. He beli
eved that his cancer as in many other cancers, is caused not be hereditary but b
y the toxic food we eat. He funded AGBT in 2002.
Esclamado also disclosed that both food manufacturers were fully automated an
d employed only a minimal number of workers. He revealed that most of the compan
ies they have visited give importance to R & D, quality control, and packaging o
f their products to meet the standard and competition of the global market.
“Companies that we have visited”, he said, “are mindful of their social respo
nsibility and obligations.Hey Long is more committed to community services, whil
e Whitewood House donates a good part of its income to the cause of the elderly”
.
The SP member said that during the power point presentation DTI Manager Mich
ael Nunez, also one of the SL delegates highlighted the investment opportunity f
or eco-tourism on its world-class scuba dive sites including prospects for Limas
awa Island, the islands of San Pedro and San Pablo in Hinunangan.
Nuñez also introduced potential fish-caging in Sogod Bay, Cabalian Bay and th
e prospect of food processing and coconut products.
According to our source John Kuo,also Taiwanese investor, has already visited
the country particularly Mindanao and the Visayas.It was further learned that K
uo stated his confidence that the Philippines as compared to Latin America has m
uch better investment climate and opportunity and the skills, trainability and w
ork attitude of the Filipinos.
The Taiwanese consultant also said that the country has the potential investm
ents in aqua-culture, food and fruits like mango, banana chips, jackfruit and co
conut vinegar processing, including the market for technology and equipment.
The Southern Leyte delegation furthermore has extended an invitation to John
Kuo, CEO of Taiwan Plant Consultants Center to visit the province.
The province representatives to the Taiwan mission moreover recommended the
creation of Investment Promotion office under the office of the Govenor,document
ary videos of the potential opportunities for investment in Southern Leyte in ec
o-tourism, aquaculture and processing of coco products, invite the would-be Taiw
anese investors who expressed initial interest to visit and explore opportunitie
s for investments, for the LGUs to encourage and initially give attractive incen
tives to local entrepreneurs to engage in marine culture, food and coco processi
ng and eco-tourism and to make into reality the “Industrial Park” of the provinc
e beyond resolutions and proclamations.
General Observations
1).Several water impounding ponds for irrigation and fish culture are very co
mmon sights in Taiwan’s rural and urban landscape.
2.)Every bit of land spaces even the surrounds of factory and big buildings ar
e planted to crops, notably rice,vegetables,sights of what appears to be low-cos
t greenhouses, mostly for growing high value crops and vegetables. Extensive agr
icultural in practice and applications of new technologies derived from R and D(
Research and Development).
3.) Metro cities of Taipei and Kaoshiung are clean and orderly, traffic is sm
ooth and people are generally friendly and willingly helpful. Public toilets are
clean and provided with soap, disposal paper towel and hot-air hand dyer. In so
me toilets disposable towel bowl covers are also available.
4) The ban on smoking in public places, public transports including taxes, re
staurants, malls and lobbies of hotels including streets are strictly observed.
Smoking is allowed only is pre-designated areas.
5) Impressively the Taiwanese people are brisk/fast walkers and very rarely c
an one see fat and obese Taiwanese. They are generally trim and slim. A probable
reflective of their diet which was observed to be high in fiber (vegetables).
6) Communication was a big problem. Very rarely can an individual find a loca
l who can speak English.Indeed, even choosing a menu in restaurants or asking fo
r salt during mealtime can become an ordeal.
7) Exchanging of business or calling cards is in vogue after 2 new acquaintan
ces are introduced to each other. The delegations learned on this practice durin
g the one-on-one meeting in Taipei and Kaoshiung.
The Southern Leyte delegation, aside from Esclamado and Nuñez were composed
of Engr. Dominador Clavejo-DOST Provincial Director; Arturo Marte-Marte Technova
Machinecrafts (private sector representative) and former VISCA professor Dr. G.
R. Gerona, private sector representative.
Furthermore, the SL delegation also thanked Governor Damian Mercado “for his
foresight and commitment to send the delegation to participate in the VTIM to T
aiwan” and to Crispin Arong, Jr. for his administrative support. Together with C
atherine Marcelo, Maria Aurora Sabalo and Bennites Paloma-Gido “for their dilige
nt and relentless efforts to facilitate and follow-up the preparation of the doc
uments required even beyond normal office hours and other Capitol officials/staf
f who make their trip a reality”.
The Visayas Trade and Investment mission to Taiwan was organized by the Manil
a Economic Cooperation office, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Tai
wan and the Department of Trade and Industry-Regional Operations and Development
Groups.
Names of businessmen/businesswomen the VTIM have met during their trip to Ta
iwan, for potential partnerships in various business undertakings in the provinc
e:
1)Doris Lee-Tao Hang Corp-Chairwoman, Women Entrepreneurs Association(reful.
gence@mse.ninet.net); 2)Shih Jing Lee-(bbok17@yahoo.com.tw); 3)John Kuo-CEO,Taiw
an Plant Consultant Center and Taiwan Turnkey Project Association-(John@tpcc.org
.tw); 4)Martin Lee-Project Manager, Taiwan Plant Consultant Center; 5)Long Diann
Biotech Company,Ltd.; 6)Tih-Rin Chen-Red Tilapia; 7)Akimoto Hung-Director, Stro
ng Way Industrial Company(akimoto.hung@gmail.com); 8)Charles Cheng-President, Ki
ng Logistics Equipment Engineering; 9)Patricia Chen-Spring Pond; 10)Mac H.M. Chi
u-Cheng Shun Hsing Co,Ltd (aqchiu@yahoo.com.tw); 11)Emma Liu-Advanced Green Biot
ech (agbt@agbt.com.tw).
(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)