Features

Strengthening the ties that bind

David Campbell, director of the British Trade & Cultural Office in Taipei, believes Taiwan-U.K. relations are improving on the back of closer commercial and cultural ties. (Photo courtesy of BTCO)

• Publication Date：11/13/2009
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Chiayi Ho

Last month, Taiwan’s Kenmark Group made a big splash in U.K. manufacturing circles with its decision to set up a 14,000 square-meter factory in Corby, East Midlands. Specializing in state-of-the-art digital visual technology through the manufacture of liquid-crystal display televisions, Kenmark’s move is expected to create 500 jobs over the next three years and is billed as Taiwan’s single biggest new investment to the United Kingdom.

For David Campbell, director of the British Trade & Cultural Office in Taipei, Kenmark’s announcement is a positive sign amid the global economic downturn that underscores the strength of Taiwan-U.K. commercial relations.

“We are very pleased with Kenmark’s vote of confidence in the British manufacturing sector,” he said Oct. 21 in an exclusive interview with “Taiwan Today.” “This investment is an example of what can be achieved through close cooperation between the public and private sectors.”

As the United Kingdom’s unofficial ambassador to Taiwan, Campbell has made developing trade relations between the two nations one of his top priorities since taking up the position in February. This focus extends to increasing the value of Taiwan-U.K trade, which stood at US$5.51 billion in 2008, and assisting Taiwan-based businesses in fulfilling their global ambitions.

“In tough economic times, it is tempting for governments to retreat and concentrate on their domestic markets,” he said. “But this is a mistake. Increased trade is the engine for economic prosperity and a key driver for jobs and growth. More trade means more jobs, higher incomes and cheaper and more diverse goods and services for consumers.”

To this end, Campbell believes that forging dynamic partnerships with U.K. companies makes perfect sense for local firms considering European expansion.

“Establishing a ‘win-win’ relationship for the manufacturing sectors of both sides is essential to our respective economic recoveries,” he said. “There is no doubt that by closely working together, Taiwan and U.K. businesses can play a key role in maintaining the flow of trade. This will see the return of strong economic growth and renewed global prosperity.”

Asked what makes the United Kingdom such a desirable destination for Taiwanese firms, Campbell had no hesitation in naming business culture and an extensive support network that does not differentiate between local and foreign companies.

“We welcome foreign investment and as a society, we are comfortable with foreign investment,” he said. “We want our foreign investors to succeed and offer a full range of services to ensure they have the best chance of doing so.”

Campbell believes that the United Kingdom is well-suited to Taiwan’s firms, and said that many of them are making noteworthy achievements in the industries of mobile and wireless technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

“To take such innovations to the high-end markets of the European Union, it makes perfect sense to be based in the United Kingdom. We have attracted around 70 percent of EU investment, and for any firm that needs to be European, the best location is the United Kingdom.”

Impressed with the innovation and commercial nous of Taiwanese firms, Campbell cites Kenmark and semiconductor giant MediaTek Inc. as two of the brightest stars on the U.K. investment scene.

“In October 2008, MediaTek leased a 1,500 square-meter site in Cambridge’s Cambourne Business Park for 10 years,” he said. “The company is using the space for its R&D operations, which are focused on developing multiple generations of cellular products.”

“Over the past several years, Taiwanese firms such as Kenmark and MediaTek have increasingly moved to plug into the U.K. manufacturing sector and taken advantage of our language, location, open economy and business-friendly environment,” he said. “Today, around 180 companies from Taiwan have invested in the United Kingdom and we hope to see a sizeable increase in this number in the very near future.”

Campbell’s optimistic stance on the future of Taiwan-U.K. commercial ties also spills over into the areas of tourism and cultural exchanges. Following the granting of visa-free entry to ROC passport holders March 3, inbound visitor numbers increased 30 percent for the first three months.

“Taiwan enjoys strong commercial and cultural ties with Britain,” he said. “Lifting the visa requirement for stays of less than six months is helping to build on that to the benefit of both peoples.”

With at least 40,000 ROC nationals visiting the United Kingdom each year, and more than 15,000 students from Taiwan enrolling in British universities, the move was well received across Taiwan.

“Based on a worldwide review of visa regimes conducted by the U.K. Border Agency, Taiwan is a problem-free country,” he said. “There is no reason to impose any special restrictions on Taiwanese travelers coming to the United Kingdom for short stays. We expect this measure to remain in place for the foreseeable future.”

In keeping with his role as Britain’s top man in Taiwan, Campbell enjoyed a summer of unforgettable local hospitality at Kaohsiung’s World Games and Taipei’s Deaflympics. “Both events were very special and thoroughly enjoyed by the visiting British teams,” he said. “We look forward to extending a similarly warm welcome to visitors from Taiwan arriving for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.” (JSM)

Write to Chiayi Ho at chiayi@mail.gio.gov.tw