Taiwan firm targets Sligo as European HQ
Top executives, Envoy fly in on fact-finding mission
Seeing the light: Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council, Clr. Gerry Murray, Chris Gonley, John Perry TD, Daniel Lu, Managing Director, G-Led Lighting, Taiwan, Taiwanese Ambassador, His Excellency David Lee and Acting Director of Infrastructural... Credit: Photo Carl Brennan.
Wednesday March 10 2010
In what would be a major boost for County Sligo in the midst of the current recession, a Taiwan based electronics company, GLed Lighting, is considering setting up its main European manufacturing, assembly and distribution base in the county, The Sligo Champion can exclusively reveal.
Managing Director of GLED Lighting, Mr. Daniel Liu, visited Sligo and Ballymote on Friday last, accompanied by the Taiwan Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. David Lee, his wife Jan, and Taiwan Embassy First Secretary Mr. Alex Lee.
G-LED Lighting specialises in the development and manufacture of energy efficient LED lighting systems for use in streetlights, and for public, private and commercial uses.
Mr. Liu employs more than 15,000 people in China and Taiwan in the electronics and power supply industries, and is the inventor and developer of groundbreaking, patented single-chip LED technology.
During his visit to Sligo, he viewed a 20,000 square feet industrial unit at Ballymote Industrial Park as potential factory site for his company.
Mr. Liu's visit to Sligo was hosted by Deputy John Perry, who said it could result in "potentially serious investment for County Sligo."
Mr. Liu met with Sligo County Enterprise Board, with the regional business management of Bank of Ireland, with the IDA Ireland regional executive, IT Sligo Business Innovation Centre, as well as with senior engineers from Sligo County Council, the Cathaoirleach of the county council, Clr. Gerry Murray, and County Manager Hubert Kearns.
Clr. Murray, on behalf of Sligo County Council, extended "a warm welcome" to Mr. Liu and those accompanying him. He also thanked Deputy Perry for coordinating the visit.
Clr. Murray said Sligo offered many attractions.
"Sligo is the centre of economic growth in this region and Sligo County Council is committed to facilitating new enterprise in whatever way we can," said Clr. Murray.
During his visit, Mr. Liu donated 10 of his company's LED street-lights to Sligo County Council, worth in the region of €1,000 each.
The lights will be erected by the council on a pilot basis, to establish the advantages of using this type of lighting technology.
Deputy Perry described the visit as "extremely important", saying it could "potentially reap huge benefits for the region."
He added that Mr. Liu was very impressed with County Sligo, and the development of a 'green' industry within the region with huge growth potential, which would be a massive boost to the economy of Sligo and the North-West region in general.
G-LED Lighting will be partaking in the upcoming Sustainable Energy Ireland Energy Show in the RDS on the 14th and 15th of April.
Some time ago, Deputy Perry met with the president of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, during a visit to the Taiwanese capital Taipei.
Deputy Perry visited Taiwan in his capacity as chair of The Ireland Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Society (ITPFS), a nonpolitical group of about 40 Oireachtas members. The focus of the society is to develop educational, cultural and trade relations between Ireland and Taiwan.
- HARRY KEANEY
