Taiwan, UK should boost partnership: British official

Noting that Taiwan has enormous strength in consumer electronics, and Britain is strong on creativity and design, Cahn said: “There is a natural marriage between our two economies there and I would like to see us building on that link.!‥

Cahn made the remarks in a meeting with local media during his visit to Taiwan to share the development of the creative industry in Britain over the past 50 years, and to promote business opportunities for Taiwanese companies in the 2012 London Olympics.

According to Cahn, the UKTI is looking to partner with Taiwan because after British companies helped Taiwan host the World Games in Kaohsiung in July and Deaflympics in Taipei in September, the U.K. is hoping that in return, Taiwanese companies will use the experience developed in holding these sporting events to help London stage a very effective Games.

More business opportunities will also be created for Taiwanese companies if Taiwanese firms take part in the London Olympics, as the U.K. has close links with places that are scheduled to host other big games, Cahn said.

He was referring to South Africa, which will host the 2012 World Cup and Rio de Janeiro, which was recently awarded the rights to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

“It isn't just one game, the skills which Taiwanese companies developed from the games you held, you really can go out and sell,” Cahn said.

Also at the press conference Wednesday, Cahn announced the biggest single new investment to the U.K. from Taiwan, with Kenmark Industrial — a Taiwanese firm that specializes in manufacturing liquid crystal display televisions — having set up a factory in Corby, East Midlands in the U.K.

“This investment is a great boost for the region and is very welcome. It comes at a time when manufacturers have been struggling.

This vote of confidence in the U.K. and its manufacturing base will give people great confidence,” Cahn said.

“Kenmark recognizes that the U.K. is the best place to establish a European operation. We have a great business culture and we are the springboard from which companies can move into markets around the world,” he added.

Kenmark Industrial has invested US$30 million and leased the 150,000 square-foot facility for a LCD TV manufacturing plant, which has already started operating, creating around 500 jobs over the next three years, according to the Taipei-based British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO).

This new investment is one of the biggest investments to the U.K. from Asia in recent years, the BTCO said.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email