The event, organized by the Taiwanese Chamber of the South Philippines (TCSPI), was held on January 1 at its clubhouse and gathered around 200 participants, including Taiwanese business leaders, community representatives, volunteers from Taiwan’s Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC), officials from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, and local stakeholders.

Taiwan’s Representative to the Philippines, Ambassador Wallace M. G. Chow, said the gathering reflected the positive trajectory of bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges. He noted that 2025 saw notable progress in Taiwan–Philippines cooperation and expressed confidence that economic engagement would further expand in 2026.

TCSPI President Jeff Yu emphasized the long-standing role of Taiwanese enterprises in the Philippine economy, particularly in southern Luzon. He noted that many Taiwanese firms have operated in the region for more than two to three decades, contributing to employment generation, industrial development, and supply-chain resilience despite global economic headwinds.

Ambassador Chow also pointed to recent initiatives that have reinforced bilateral cooperation, including expanded official exchanges, visa-free entry arrangements for Taiwanese travelers, and large-scale Taiwanese trade and investment missions to key Philippine growth centers such as Subic, Clark, and Metro Manila. These efforts, he said, support deeper collaboration in priority sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, and technology.

The presence of leaders from major Taiwanese and Filipino-Chinese business and community organizations nationwide highlighted the private sector’s active role in advancing Taiwan–Philippines economic engagement.

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan — Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta Marcos positioned the province as the Philippines’ northern gateway to Taiwan and East Asia, calling for deeper collaboration in smart ports, trade, tourism, and education during the 2025 Taiwan-Philippine Smart Harbor Forum here.

Addressing government officials, industry leaders, and academic partners, Marcos underscored that Ilocos Norte’s geography gives it a strategic advantage few Philippine regions possess. Facing Taiwan across the Luzon Strait, the province is the country’s closest landmass to Taiwan—an advantage she described as both physical and economic.

“Ilocos Norte is closer to Taiwan than many realize—and that proximity creates real, investible opportunities in trade, tourism, and logistics,” Marcos said.

She framed Taiwan-Philippines relations as a maritime partnership shaped by shared heritage and historic trade routes that long predate modern political borders.

Trade and logistics opportunity

Marcos highlighted Ilocos Norte’s potential as a less-congested northern entry point for Taiwanese trade and logistics, complementing major ports in Luzon and Metro Manila. She pointed to opportunities in smart port development, green logistics, and resilient maritime infrastructure—areas where Taiwan’s advanced port technologies align with Philippine growth priorities.

“Our ports and airport are operational, international-ready, and positioned as a less-congested northern entry point into the Philippines,” she said.

The port of Currimao and nearby facilities, she added, offer scalable platforms for regional shipping, cruise operations, and future logistics integration linking Taiwan, Northern Philippines, Japan, and Southeast Asia.

Proven air and sea connectivity

Marcos stressed that Ilocos Norte is building on proven foundations. The province has previously hosted chartered international flights connecting Laoag to Taipei, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, and Macau, with more than 200,000 international passengers recorded between 2004 and 2023.

“The demand is already there. What we are doing now is reconnecting and scaling routes that have already proven viable,” she said.

Laoag International Airport is fully operational for international travel, capable of accommodating Airbus A320 aircraft and supported by customs, immigration, and quarantine services. Ongoing upgrades—including a new passenger terminal and planned airside and rail expansions—aim to transform Laoag into a fully upgraded international air hub.

On the maritime side, Ilocos Norte is gaining traction as a cruise tourism destination. The port of Currimao has welcomed international cruise ships from Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. Most recently, a cruise vessel carrying nearly 2,000 Taiwanese passengers docked in the province, reinforcing its appeal in regional itineraries.

Tourism beyond beaches

Marcos also highlighted Ilocos Norte’s high-value tourism assets, positioning the province as a destination that blends nature, heritage, and curated experiences. These include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Paoay Church, one of Asia’s oldest functioning lighthouses, scenic coastlines, and the Paoay Sand Dunes—the country’s only desert-like landscape and an emerging venue for adventure tourism and cultural festivals.

“This is not only a tourism play; it is a strategic investment platform linking air, sea, culture, and community,” she said.

The province, she added, is shifting toward sustainable, premium tourism, particularly for cruise passengers and East Asian travelers seeking culture-driven and experiential destinations.

Education and people-to-people exchange

Beyond trade and tourism, Marcos pitched Ilocos Norte as an education-tourism hub, promoting English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs in partnership with state universities, including Mariano Marcos State University and Northwestern University.

“We welcome partnerships that combine education, tourism, and cultural exchange—creating long-term people-to-people connections,” she said.

The programs are designed to attract Taiwanese students for short-term English training paired with cultural immersion and travel.

Investment-ready province

Marcos emphasized that Ilocos Norte is investment-ready, citing existing hospitality infrastructure, convention facilities, and planned developments that can support large tour groups, business events, and public-private partnerships.

“Ilocos Norte is not starting from zero—we have existing connectivity, existing demand, and communities ready to support growth,” she said.

Her vision, she added, is to position the province as a future-ready platform for regional cooperation.

“Our goal is clear: to position Ilocos Norte as the Philippines’ northern gateway—efficient, connected, and future-ready,” Marcos said.

Strategic message to Taiwan

Her message to Taiwanese investors and partners was direct: Ilocos Norte is ready, connected, and close. With operational airports, capable ports, and engaged communities, the province is positioning itself as Taiwan’s most natural partner in the Philippines for smart harbor development, logistics integration, tourism growth, and education exchange.

“We are ready. Our infrastructure is in place, our upgrades are underway, and our people are prepared to partner,” Marcos said.

As Taiwan and the Philippines deepen regional cooperation, Ilocos Norte is emerging as a frontline platform for shared growth—linking oceans, cultures, and future opportunities across the Luzon Strait.