TAIWANESE Ambassador Dr. Gary Song-Huann Lin urged Filipino entrepreneurs to pursue partnerships with Taiwanese firms in agribusiness, manufacturing, banking, transport, and communications, infrastructure and real estate, and tourism and logistics to take advantage of Taiwan’s “New Southbound Policy.”
Lin said the Philippines should take advantage of Taipeh’s new policy that considers the Philippines the main gateway for the “New Southbound Policy” aimed at expanding cooperation and partnership with Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“As the Philippines is poised for high and sustained growth, its market is one of the biggest Asean markets. It is one of the fastest-rowing economies in the world and its economic fundamentals are good and strong,” Lin said.
Lin said the Philippines has the biggest English-speaking population in Asean and lots of energetic and talented professionals.
“The Filipino consumer market is young whose purchasing power has been one of the best among Asean countries,” Lin further said. “All of these factors help explain why we should work in partnership, I am sure that our two countries will benefit from it.”
Likewise, he also urged all Taiwanese entrepreneurs to diversify their investments to the Philippines, citing the continuous improvement of the country’s infrastructure and the increasing efficiency of operations at ports.
Lin admitted that Taiwan has long neglected and overlooked by other Asean countries but Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen wants Taipeh to aggressively push for its “New Southbound Policy” to “diversify and balance” its regional ties.
The New Southbound Policy, which was launched last September, will focus on forging long-term comprehensive, multi-faceted, two-way, reciprocal and mutually beneficial relations with 18 countries, including the 10 members of the Asean, South Asian countries, New Zealand and Australia.
“Taiwan is also aiming to forge a sense of economic community with these nations to help Taiwan identify new directions and build new momentum for its economic development,” Lin said.
“The Philippines, under the New Southbound Policy is seen as the most important country as the gateway for Taiwan to expand multifaceted cooperation and partnership with Asean countries,” Lin said.
“We are not only geographically close to each other. We also share common values of freedom, democracy, free media, rule of law, civil society, and similar Austronesia culture and destiny. Furthermore, Taiwanese and Filipinos share common traits with being optimistic, courteous, and caring,” Lin said.
Lin also said that Taiwan is the “genuine friend” of the Philippines where both countries are ready to come in aid quickly when calamities hit the two countries.
“Physically, it takes only one hour and 45 minutes by airplane to travel between Taiwan and the Philippines. However, we are closer than anyone can think of. Whenever there are natural calamities in the Philippines, Taiwan, as a genuine friend and close neighbor of the Philippines, is always quick to respond and one of the first countries to extend a helping hand by providing humanitarian assistance,” Lin noted.
