Taiwan and Honduras have signed an agreement for investment cooperation and promotion as part of their efforts to improve bilateral economic ties, diplomatic sources said yesterday.
On behalf of the Republic of China government, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Sheng-chung (林聖忠) inked the accord with Honduran Minister of Industry and Commerce Jose Francisco Zelaya in San Pedro Sula on Thursday.
Honduran First Vice President Maria Antonieta Guillen de Bogran, Honduran Assistant Foreign Minister Alden Rivera and Taiwan’s ambassador to Honduras Lai Chien-chung (賴建中) witnessed the signing.
SOLID RELATIONS
At the ceremony, Lin said the agreement would pave the way for the two countries to forge solid investment and trade relations.
He said that, riding the wave of globalization, Taiwan cannot isolate itself and its government must continue to review economic policy and improve the nation’s investment situation to boost the competitiveness of Taiwanese enterprises.
loans
Lin, who led a delegation of more than 20 members to Honduras, said the Export-Import Bank of the ROC (中國輸出入銀行) had decided to provide US$10 million in loans to Honduran companies to purchase advanced machinery from Taiwan.
The move is expected to help Honduras increase the global competitiveness of its enterprises.
Taiwanese businesses have invested about US$60 million in Honduras and created more than 2,000 jobs.
MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL
Lin said the agreement is expected to attract more Taiwanese investors to Honduras, giving the example of a Taiwanese sports goods manufacturer that is planning to launch operations in the Latin American country soon.
Zelaya said Taiwan and Honduras are expected to mutually benefit from the investment accord and his country has high hopes that cooperation with Taiwan will demonstrate Honduras’ ambition to expand its international trade activities.
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