With Taiwan's WTO entry, new opportunities abound and both Australia and Taiwan have boosted their trading relationship. Rice and liquid milk are now being exported from Australia to Taiwan for the first time, said Frances J. Adamson, representative of the Australian Commerce and Industry Office. In addition, Australian citrus fruits, peaches and a broad range of Australian products are now available in the local market. To promote its products, an Australian Food Products Promotion is scheduled to be held at RT Mart March this year and an Australian Food Fair in June.
Taiwan is Australia's 8th largest export market and we are the largest supplier of beef, lamb, crustacean, as well as the second largest supplier of agricultural products to Taiwan. We are also a major supplier of dairy produce, fruits and vegetables, Adamson said. Aside from agricultural and commodities, coal and iron ore, some new areas and services include high technology.
In engineering, a consortium led by an Australian engineering and construction firm has won a tender to construct a 29 km low vibration tract and a 3 km duct for the Taipei Kaohsiung High Speed Railway.
Environmental technology is another area important to Taiwan. During the drought last year, Taipei and Kaohsiung City Government were looking at ways to conserve water and an Australian company, the original developer of the dual flash toilet, introduced its innovative product to the local market.
With the aim to further foster bilateral trade and economic ties between Australia and Taiwan, the ACIO's Australian Business Centre provides a comprehensive service to Taiwan business looking to invest in Australia. It identifies investment opportunities, provides information and advice on establishment and operating costs, and relevant foreign investment regulations, and connects Taiwanese firms with joint venture partners, strategic allies and key government contacts. It also facilitates government approvals and in certain cases, provides grants for feasibility studies.
In addition, the Australian government provides a number of investment incentives, including grants and infrastructure services. It does so where the project would generate significant net economic and employment benefits for Australia.
Recent Taiwan investments in Australia is Taiwan Telecom Group which had made plans to invest NT$270 million in an R&D in Australia while China Petroleum has entered into an exploration agreement with the Western Australian Co.
Australian investments in Taiwan include services area, land lease, property development, Taipei 101 project, operating and developing document retrieval services, bank, and educational institutions.
Australia is also a world-class producer of LNG and major supplier in the Asia Pacific market (Japan, China, Korea). It currently supplies LNG to Taiwan and had recently won a large project to supply LNG in Kwangtung, China.
Australia's IT conference provides an opportunity for Taiwanese firms to further tap into Australian high tech expertise. Companies from around the world will see Australian technology and it provides an opportunity for Taiwanese firms to explore collaboration with Australian counterparts.
In the field of learning, Taiwanese students are rapidly discovering the attractions of an Australian education -- its high quality, low cost, internationally recognized qualifications, and with the convenience of a zero to three hour time difference.
Australians have also won seven Nobel prizes, majority in sciences. Last year, it also launched a prestigious Australian Asian scholarship for PhD students (valued at NT$1 million) and received quite a lot of interest.
"We are a multi cultural society and Taiwanese students are able to feel at home there. It is no wonder then that the number of Taiwanese students choosing an Australian education has been rising," said Adamson. In Taiwan, Australian Education Centre provides free information and counseling services for Taiwanese students seeking an Australian education. Last year, Australia ranked third place destination for Taiwanese students.
There are also a growing number of Australian alumni in Taiwan -- which is adding to the momentum in education links. In the past decade, 25,000 Taiwanese have passed through Australia's education system. The Australian Alumni Association was recently relaunched with the aim to network and reliving their Australian experience.
To further boost tourism, Australian Airlines, a subsidiary of Qantas, last year launched direct flights between Taipei and Cairns. Australian Broadcasting Commission Asia Pacific services are now available in Taiwan through satellite and cable operators.
81,000 visitors visited Australia with 3,000 students going to Australia to study and 1,000 Taiwanese who migrated under business skills program. There is a strong Taiwanese community in Australia. A census taken in 2001 declares that at the present moment there are now 22,000 Taiwanese living in Australia. Chinese languages (Cantonese, Mandarin, Taiwanese) are now the most spoken language in Australian households after English.
Australia also recently introduced electronic innovation to make travel more convenient. Students can now apply for a visa through the Internet using e-visa.
In public arts, an Australian artist was invited to paint murals at the Jenai Hospital. Other cultural events coming up include an exhibition in the Museum of Contemporary Arts, with the theme "Native Born," a famous aboriginal art exhibition that has been touring the world for the last 16 years. It will be shown next month. We are planning a series of events throughout the year for us to demonstrate Australia's multi-cultural society and artistic strength.
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