During the 1960's export processing zones created Taiwan's miraculous economic growth. Nine years ago, Hsu Tzu-yen went to the Dominican Republic to invest. He wanted to introduce the entire model of the R.O.C.'s export processing zone, and was treated with respect by the Dominican Republic. At that time Hsu, with an undaunted spirit, made a promise saying, "This export processing zone will be beneficial to your country's economic growth."
Quite unexpectedly, there was an eight-year lapse between what had been set on paper and the actual work of construction. The reason for the delay is that he was totally unfamiliar with the area. He bought eighty hectares of land except for two small pieces of land which belonged to someone else. Since the other party was unwilling to sell, it affected the plans for the entire export production zone. He slowly had to adjust to the laws of the Dominican Republic, the personalities of different people, and the different customs with which things were done.
It wasn't until last year that the problem was completely solved. "We waited until we had met all the legal requirements before we broke ground and began work," Hsu Tzu-yen's wife of French nationality, Odette Hsu, says. "The hard days are behind us. Now, we hope that we can help other Chinese people based on our difficult experience so that they too may come and invest."
There are very few businessmen in the R.O.C. who can understand Spanish. The Hsus take related laws, such as conditions on investment by foreigners and labor laws, translate them into Chinese, and supply them to domestic businessmen who may be interested in investing in the Dominican Republic. Most who establish factories in the processing zone do so with the intention of exporting to the United States, so the Hsus also gather information on the import laws of the United States and offer information as needed.
This processing zone is expected to be developed in two stages. The first stage under development is constructing sixty factories. Construction is still under way. Already, two domestic companies and one company from Hong Kong have made purchases and plan to move in this year.
Looking back, Odette Hsu says that during the time when they had invested several million U.S. dollars which lay idle, they signed checks left and right. She often thought of giving up, but each time she did she always found support to go on. Her Chinese husband always told her, "The words of us Chinese count for something."
[Picture Caption]
Investment in the export-processing zone has finally gotten under way and is going smoothly. Odette Hsu looks on with a smile.
Investment in the export-processing zone has finally gotten under way and is going smoothly. Odette Hsu looks on with a smile.
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