SL Delegation Joins The Visayas Trade And Investment Mission To Taiwan

March 23,2010
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 delegation, together with other 13 delegates from four Visayas regions, have joined 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 total 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 communication technology, light manufacturing and as a lucrative market with which to source consumer products and raw materials.
Also the mission, our source said, intends to acquire some information and access to the latest technological developments in Taiwan in the field of agriculture 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 Investment were on eco-tourism, aquaculture and processing utilization of coconut products.
Investment seminar, forum and business to business meeting were conducted during 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 Park and Food Shows, marine culture farms and Koi farms at Pingtung County, Clone International Biotechnology,Inc.,Hay Long Corp(main products are beverages),First 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 Agricultural Biotechnological Park-233 hectares government-initiated Research & Development and Investment facility and the only Science Park in Taiwan dedicated to agricultural purposes. Research and Development support with a maximum of 50% subsidy for R & D payment expense; expense subsidies which commissioned academic institutions to help research.
Advanced Green Biotechnology, Inc., founded by Feng –Jhih Liu, who was engaged in a real state construction business in China. Afflicted with cancer that spread to his lungs he stopped construction business and return to Taiwan. He believed that his cancer as in many other cancers, is caused not be hereditary but by the toxic food we eat. He funded AGBT in 2002.
Esclamado also disclosed that both food manufacturers were fully automated and employed only a minimal number of workers. He revealed that most of the companies they have visited give importance to R & D, quality control, and packaging of their products to meet the standard and competition of the global market.
“Companies that we have visited”, he said, “are mindful of their social responsibility and obligations.Hey Long is more committed to community services, while 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 Michael Nunez, also one of the SL delegates highlighted the investment opportunity for eco-tourism on its world-class scuba dive sites including prospects for Limasawa Island, the islands of San Pedro and San Pablo in Hinunangan.
Nuñez also introduced potential fish-caging in Sogod Bay, Cabalian Bay and the 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 Kuo stated his confidence that the Philippines as compared to Latin America has much better investment climate and opportunity and the skills, trainability and work attitude of the Filipinos.
The Taiwanese consultant also said that the country has the potential investments in aqua-culture, food and fruits like mango, banana chips, jackfruit and coconut 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,documentary videos of the potential opportunities for investment in Southern Leyte in eco-tourism, aquaculture and processing of coco products, invite the would-be Taiwanese investors who expressed initial interest to visit and explore opportunities for investments, for the LGUs to encourage and initially give attractive incentives to local entrepreneurs to engage in marine culture, food and coco processing and eco-tourism and to make into reality the “Industrial Park” of the province beyond resolutions and proclamations.
General Observations
1).Several water impounding ponds for irrigation and fish culture are very common sights in Taiwan’s rural and urban landscape.
2.)Every bit of land spaces even the surrounds of factory and big buildings are planted to crops, notably rice,vegetables,sights of what appears to be low-cost greenhouses, mostly for growing high value crops and vegetables. Extensive agricultural 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 smooth 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 some toilets disposable towel bowl covers are also available.
4) The ban on smoking in public places, public transports including taxes, restaurants, 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 can 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 local who can speak English.Indeed, even choosing a menu in restaurants or asking for salt during mealtime can become an ordeal.
7) Exchanging of business or calling cards is in vogue after 2 new acquaintances are introduced to each other. The delegations learned on this practice during 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 Taiwan” and to Crispin Arong, Jr. for his administrative support. Together with Catherine Marcelo, Maria Aurora Sabalo and Bennites Paloma-Gido “for their diligent and relentless efforts to facilitate and follow-up the preparation of the documents required even beyond normal office hours and other Capitol officials/staff who make their trip a reality”.
The Visayas Trade and Investment mission to Taiwan was organized by the Manila Economic Cooperation office, the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Taiwan and the Department of Trade and Industry-Regional Operations and Development Groups.
Names of businessmen/businesswomen the VTIM have met during their trip to Taiwan, for potential partnerships in various business undertakings in the province:
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,Taiwan 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, Strong Way Industrial Company(akimoto.hung@gmail.com); 8)Charles Cheng-President, King Logistics Equipment Engineering; 9)Patricia Chen-Spring Pond; 10)Mac H.M. Chiu-Cheng Shun Hsing Co,Ltd (aqchiu@yahoo.com.tw); 11)Emma Liu-Advanced Green Biotech (agbt@agbt.com.tw).(Quirico M. Gorpido,Jr.)