Taiwanese electronics firms plan RP investments

Taiwanese electronics and information technology (IT) firms are looking at the possibility of directly investing in the country or partnering with local firms, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said on Thursday.

In a statement, Dita Angara Mathay, MECO director for trade and investments, said the Taiwanese—which were the third biggest foreign delegation at the 10th e-services and Global Sourcing Conference and Exhibition held in Manila early this month—met with local players in the e-commerce, electronics, IT and software development sectors.

Among the Taiwanese companies that participated at the trade fair were Empyrean International Techno Devices Inc., a developer and distributor of global positioning system goods; Industrade Co. Ltd., distributor of power electronics and thermal production equipment; IT consultancy firm Info-matics; educational institution John Dewey International Education Consultants Ltd.; and TECO’s Smart Card Division, the main contractor of Taiwan’s national health insurance card.

“Discussions included ventures such as setting up of new call centers, tie-ups in marketing software and e-commerce programs, software development, animation and the propagation of smart card and other e-commerce technologies,” Angara Mathay said.

“The talks between the Taiwanese firms and their Filipino counterparts would hopefully result in fresh investments in the country’s burgeoning e-services and IT industries,” she added.

MECO is optimistic that Taiwan will seriously look at partnerships in the Philippines that could translate into additional jobs and technology transfers in these cutting-edge industries. –Ben Arnold O. de Vera, Manila Times