Kaohsiung: Taiwan and the Philippines will hold a "smart harbor" forum in Kaohsiung next month to promote cooperation between the southern Taiwan harbor and the Port of Subic Bay, a Taiwanese diplomat announced.
According to Focus Taiwan, Lien Yu-ping, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs, stated at a weekly briefing that the Taiwan-Philippines smart harbor forum, scheduled from December 9 to 11, will involve over 30 representatives from the Philippines' public and private sectors.
Invitations have been extended to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and local government officials from North Luzon, although the guest list is still being finalized. Lien highlighted the significance of the Port of Subic Bay and Port of Kaohsiung as busy harbors located in crucial geographical areas, with the forum aiming to foster exchanges on digitalization, automation, and unmanned surface vehicles.
The upcoming forum is part of ongoing efforts to promote the Taiwan-Philippines Economic Corridor. This initiative is aligned with the Luzon Economic Corridor, launched by the Philippines, the United States, and Japan in 2024. It also underscores joint efforts by Taiwan and the United States to enhance cooperation in third countries and deepen strategic partnerships with the Philippines, as stated by MOFA.