CEPD tour draws interest from more Japanese firms

 08/31/2011

Taiwan Today  The investment promotion tour organized by the Council for Economic Planning and Development continued for the second day Aug. 30 in Tokyo, with several Japanese firms expressing an interest in expanding business ties with Taiwan. According to the CEPD, the council concluded a memorandum of understanding with Tokyo-based semiconductor distributor and network service provider Macnica Inc., which sees Taiwan as the best portal into mainland China for Japanese firms. Under the terms of the deal, Macnica agrees to invest in Taiwan's semiconductor distribution sector and establish partnerships with the country's public or private sector. The CEPD delegation also split up and visited nearly 20 major Japanese firms in six major sectors: precision machinery; the cultural and creative industries, including digital content; biotechnology and international medical care; high tech; green energy; and urban renewal and real estate development.Pharmaceutical service provider CMIC Co. Ltd. said it intends to increase its presence in Taiwan, while IT heavyweight NEC Corp. expressed an intention to team up with Taiwan's telecom service providers and develop machine-to-machine service platforms using cloud computing technology. The delegation is scheduled to visit more Japanese businesses in Osaka Aug. 31, and will organize another investment promotion forum at the city's Hotel Hankyu International later the same day. In related news, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Japan's leading mushroom grower and distributor Hokuto Corp. inked a letter of intention Aug. 31 in Taipei. The LOI, signed by Deputy Minister Liang Kuo-hsin and Hokuto President Masayoshi Mizuno, will see the firm invest an additional NT$1.25 billion (US$43 million) in a second production plant in Taiwan and create 70 new jobs. Hokuto has already invested NT$700 million this year upgrading its branch office in the Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park to a subsidiary. With the expanded production, Taiwan is set to become the firm's major manufacturing and operation center for the Asian market, according to the MOEA.