Posted on: Friday, November 5, 2004

State leading Taiwan mission

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i real estate brokers, developers and business owners seeking investors are being invited on a state-arranged trade mission to Taiwan next month.

The state Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism said the mission seeks to expand investment primarily in Hawai'i's real estate and construction industries, which have been key drivers of the local economy in recent years.

The agency also said the trip is an opportunity for capital-needy businesses that have owner or customer links to Taiwan.

"We want to facilitate the channel for (local businesses) to access quality foreign funds," said Alex Ho, economic development specialist with DBEDT.

Participants are required to pay for their own travel and lodging. The state, which will send a delegation headed by DBEDT Director Ted Liu, has arranged for more than 60 investors, bankers and immigration consultants in Taiwan to attend.

Ho said he has received interest from 10 prospective Hawai'i participants in the trade mission, including the state's largest commercial real estate brokerage firm, CB Richard Ellis Hawaii Inc.

The event is scheduled for Dec. 13-15 at the Taipei World Trade Center. A reverse mission, where interested Taiwan investors would visit Hawai'i, is being planned for April.

If the project is deemed successful, Ho said, there could be similar missions to China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Korea.

For more information, contact Ho at alexho@dbedt.hawaii.gov or 587-2760.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.