The Philippines is knocking on Taiwan's doors asking for new investments, particularly in the agricultural sector. “Taiwan has many food processing enterprises,” said Lilia de Lima, director general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), “they are modern and technologically advanced enterprises, and they would be welcome in the many agricultural and industrial parks established in PEZA ”. The Taiwanese presence in the PEZA is already substantial: to date, in fact, there are 63 Taiwanese companies operating in the economic areas under the control of the Philippine authorities. Most of these companies are active in the fields of clinical technology, clothing, electronics and rubber and plastics processing. Lilia de Lima also said she was in favor of signing an economic agreement between her country and Taiwan. The first step on the road to this agreement could be precisely the entry into the Philippines of a flow of new investments from Taiwan.
De Lima, who for 19 years, as director of PEZA, has been traveling from one country to another in search of fresh capital for the Philippine economy, has already obtained important investments from South Korea and now, after a series of preparatory meetings , is preparing to leave for Taiwan in view of the final agreement. Furthermore, the single market of the ASEAN countries, which will be launched at the end of 2015, offers the Philippines new growth opportunities. "With the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Commuty" continues Lilia De Lima "foreign companies will be able to use the Philippines as basis for entering the Southeast Asian market”. The Philippines - underlines the director of PEZA - can make use of their huge human resources. In fact, Filipino workers represent a great competitive advantage: they know English well, can be easily trained, are willing to move and, having a low average age, have many years of productive activity ahead of them.
