More than 200 business people and officials from Taiwan and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region attended a forum on Tuesday on Guangxi and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area market.

The event was co-hosted in Taipei by the Taiwan Trade Center, the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei and the Commerce Department of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Wang Naixu, head of Commerce Department of Guangxi suggested enterprises can avail of Guangxi’ industrial base, rich resources and developed transportation system.

He said Guangxi is not only a platform for Taiwan businessmen to enter the ASEAN market, but also an industrial cooperator in manufacturing and process sectors.

Guangxi’s rich agricultural resources also provide enterprises with many business opportunities.

Chiang Pin-kung, former chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation said in his keynote speech for the forum that Beibu Gulf in Guangxi will become a key zone for Taiwan enterprises and Taiwan investors but they must plan ahead.

He pointed out the immature investment and the market environment often prove a major challenge for Taiwan investors.

Amid the backdrop of the global financial crisis, Taiwan is paying more attention to Southeast Asia and Guangxi, a border region neighboring Southeast Asian nations and a key region earmarked by Beijing in the development of the China-ASEAN FTA.