The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Myanmar opened in Yangon yesterday, offering consular services, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
TECO, which represents Taiwan’s interests in Myanmar in the absence of diplomatic relations between the two nations, replaced the representative office of the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) in Yangon. The ICDF is an aid agency run by the ministry.
The establishment of TECO in Yangon is aimed at facilitating mutual visits by citizens of the two nations and further strengthening bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the areas of trade, economics, agriculture, fishery, labor, education, culture and tourism, the ministry said.
Since 2011, when the then-Myanmar government adopted more open-door policies, Taiwanese enterprises have flocked to the Southeast Asian nation looking for business opportunities, the ministry said, adding that more than 200 Taiwanese enterprises have invested in Myanmar, while 11 Taiwanese banks have established branches, agencies or representative offices.
Before setting up TECO in Yangon, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council maintained a representative office in Yangon, along with the ICDF office in the same city.
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