TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – The government had reached the final phase of evaluating whether to set up a Taiwan manufacturing park in the Philippines, Economics Minister Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) said Friday.

Since taking office in May, Kuo has advocated the launch of parks for Taiwanese businesses overseas, most notably in Japan and the Philippines. This year’s efforts would focus on the US, Japan, Central and Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia, Radio Taiwan International reported.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs had arrived at the final evaluation phase for the Philippines, the minister said. The next step would be to submit a practical proposal to the Cabinet.

Once the project is approved, the first step will be to have clean energy businesses move into the new manufacturing park, Kuo said. Resources will be concentrated to attract other Taiwanese manufacturers during the second phase.

The minister said the parks should focus on one manufacturing sector and not diversify into several products. The plan would also see the Taiwanese businesses avoid double taxation and pay taxes benefiting Taiwan.

Separately, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said Taiwan would open a trade and investment center in the Japanese city of Fukuoka in April. It launched a similar center in the Czech Republic in December.