Taiwan manufacturer representatives tour Borderplex region in search for new sites

Vic Kolenc, El Paso Times
·1 min read
Jon Barela, Borderplex Alliance CEO, talks at a June 30 press conferece at the Hotel Paso Del Norte in Downtown El Paso as part of a tour of the Borderplex region for Taiwan companies looking at possible sites for expansion. Brent Omdahl, commercial section chief of the American Institute in Taiwan, far left, Tony Yuan, board member of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association, and Michael Tsung, far right, of the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei, also took part in the press conference.

Representatives of Taiwan manufacturing companies are window shopping in the Borderplex region this week.

A 19-person delegation made up of representatives of two large Taiwan business associations and representatives of 13 Taiwanese companies are taking part in a tour of El Paso, Santa Teresa, New Mexico and Juarez, Mexico through Friday. They are  hosted by the Borderplex Alliance economic development organization based in El Paso.

Tony Yuan, board member of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association, talks at a June 30 press conference at the Hotel Paso Del Norte in Downtown El Paso as part of a tour of the Borderplex region for Taiwan companies looking at possible sites for expansion. Brent Omdahl, commercial section chief at the American Institute in Taiwan, far left, Jon Barela, Borderplex Alliance CEO, and Michael Tsung, far right, of the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei, also took part in the press conference.

Their aim is to "better understand the landscape of the automotive supply chain" in this region and identify potential facility sites in the United States for electric vehicle suppliers, including semiconductor manufacturers, Tony Yuan, a board member of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association, said at a June 30 press conference in El Paso.

El Paso City Rep. Peter Svarzbein, center, talks to Brent Omdahl, right, commercial section chief at the American Institute in Taiwan, Tony Yuan, left center, board member of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association, and Michael Tsung, of the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei, after a June 30 press conference at the Hotel Paso Del Norte in Downtown El Paso.

Several Taiwan companies already have operations in Juarez, and are looking to expand, he said. Two Taiwan semiconductor-related manufacturers are putting factories in Phoenix and Sherman, Texas, Yuan noted. "And I'm sure many more will follow," he said.

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 546-6421; vkolenc@elpasotimes.com; @vickolenc on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Taiwan manufacturers tour Borderplex region in search for new sites