Taiwan keen on doing business in Cagayan

TUGUEGARAO CITY: Taiwan’s representative in the Philippines, Wallace Minn-Gann Chow, expressed the desire to extend to Cagayan province Taiwan’s advance farming similar to what they introduced in Tarlac City under Taiwan Technical Mission Demonstration Farm (TTMDF).

Chow revealed their keen interest during a visit in Cagayan on Tuesday, February 20, for cooperation between the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) and the province.

Chow was optimistic upon seeing the great potential of the province in aquaculture and tourism.

He was accompanied by his wife Tai Yu Shan, Irene Wang, Yuan-Ching Peng and Manila

Economic and Cultural Office Vice Chairman Renato Ebarle during their visit.

The group was welcomed by Gov. Manuel Mamba at the Capitol Main Building.

Like the TTMDF in Tarlac, Chow said the TTMDF’s mission is to introduce Taiwan’s advanced farming technology to the Philippines, thereby upgrading agricultural practices and ensuring the groundwork for improved food safety and productivity.

Chow said the TTMDF houses the Agricultural Machinery Warehouse with various agricultural equipment such as the Agricultural Waste Processing Facility and the Steel-Structured Controlled Environment Greenhouses and other field areas.

“The Agricultural Machinery Warehouse demonstrates farming technologies and techniques and advanced systems for growing crops that will help farmers and fishermen,” Chow said.

The ambassador also shared the current investment status of Taiwan, stating that they have so many surpluses due to the large amount of investment entering their country.

Mamba told the Taiwanese visitors that the province of Cagayan is open to anyone who wants to invest.

“The province of Cagayan has a wide potential investment area in the aquaculture and agriculture sector due to the presence of wide brackish areas and irrigated land areas like the town of Tuao,” he said.

Mamba noted that the Cagayan River is being dredged to open the Port of Aparri and even the International Airport which will serve as a gateway to Asian countries.

According to the governor, Chow’s group is scheduled to visit the Cagayan Farm School and Agri-Tourism Center in Anquiray, Amulung and the Cagayan Animal Breeding Center and Agri-Ecotourism Park in Zitanga, Ballesteros.

The officials also discussed the relationship between Cagayan and Taiwan.

“There is no reason for us not to be friends,” Chow said.

On the other hand, Mamba said the province of Cagayan is ready to cooperate with Taiwan, especially on economic development.