TAIWAN’S Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) brought its artificial intelligence (AI) and smart energy expertise to Manila from Nov. 13 to 15 through its “Economic and Trade Forum Tour,” organized in partnership with the Taiwan Association Inc. Philippines (TAP). The program featured Vivian Huang, international cooperation strategy officer at Taiwan’s Institute for Information Industry — a leading force behind Taiwan’s digital transformation and smart-city innovation.
GROUP PHOTO Participants of the OCAC Economic and Trade Forum in Manila join speaker Vivian Huang for a group photo, following her keynote session on AI and smart energy on Nov 15. PHOTO FROM OCAC
The Manila leg combined a keynote seminar with hands-on corporate visits, aiming to help Filipino-based Taiwanese enterprises strengthen Environmental, Social, and Governance readiness, accelerate digital and net-zero transformation, and connect with Taiwan’s rapidly advancing technology sectors.
TAP AND VIVIAN HUANG Leaders of the Taiwan Association Inc. Philippines present a commemorative token to Vivian Huang during the Nov. 15 forum, recognizing her contributions in sharing Taiwan’s latest AI and smart-city innovations. PHOTO FROM OCAC
On Nov. 15, Huang delivered a keynote presentation titled “Digital transformation and smart energy,” drawing nearly 50 business leaders from Metro Manila. She highlighted Taiwan’s cutting-edge applications in AI-enabled manufacturing, workforce automation, customer service, food processing, power management, and smart-city governance. Her examples included Kaohsiung City’s use of AI to manage large-scale event crowds and optimize traffic and business activity — showing how smart technology can directly improve urban efficiency and economic performance.
CORPORATE VISIT Vivian Huang and representatives from TAP and the Culture Center of TECO in the Philippines visit Kou Fu Color Printing Corp. in Cavite, engaging with company leaders on digital process monitoring and energy-efficient production strategies. PHOTO FROM OCAC
TAP President Tom Lin thanked OCAC and Huang for bringing Taiwan’s latest technological insights to Manila, noting that the seminar “provides timely and practical guidance for enterprises facing rapid industry changes.”
CORPORATE VISITS The delegation meets with the leadership team of Ersao Taiwanese Restaurant in Quezon City, discussing opportunities to integrate automation, and AI-based tools to enhance operational efficiency. PHOTO FROM OCAC
Taiwan’s Representative to the Philippines, Ambassador Wallace M.G. Chow, emphasized that smart energy, digital transformation, and AI-powered governance are now global priorities. He added that Taiwan’s achievements in renewable energy, digital innovation, and smart cities make it an ideal partner for enterprises that are seeking new models for competitiveness and sustainable growth.
As part of the program, TAP and Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines led visits to two Taiwan-founded enterprises in the Philippines: Kou Fu Color Printing Corp. in Cavite and Ersao Taiwanese Restaurant in Quezon City. Huang recommended digital process monitoring, energy-saving strategies, automation for high-cost production steps, and the adoption of AI-based tools for inventory, workforce, and operations management. Both companies expressed strong interest in applying Taiwan’s technology insights to enhance productivity and resilience.
OCAC’s Manila seminar marked the final stop of Vivian Huang’s regional mission, following earlier visits to Vietnam and Thailand. The initiative strengthened Taiwan–Philippines industrial linkages and opened new opportunities for AI-driven collaboration, reaffirming Taiwan’s commitment to supporting overseas enterprises on their digital and smart-energy transformation journey.
