EXPLAINING THE POTENTIAL: Shaktikanta Das, Secretary, Industries Department, Tamil Nadu, with Su Chi, KMT legislator from Taiwan, at a meeting in Chennai on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: For Taiwan, India comes as an alternative option for investment, says Kauo-Hwa Sun, senior advisor to the Taiwanese Parliament.

"In Chennai, we have felt the vigorous commerce and technology in action. I hope Chennai and Tamil Nadu can be a good option for Taiwan business," Dr. Sun said, addressing a breakfast meeting hosted here on Wednesday by the Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry for a delegation of Taiwan's leading opposition party, Kuomintang or KMT.

The total Taiwanese investment in India stands at $110 million. Unofficial estimate of investment in China is of $100 billion.

Tamil Nadu Industrial Secretary Shaktikanta  Das described the four-pronged advantage the State offers; a hassle-free business environment; quality  manpower; and an investor-friendly government.

Highlighting the SEZ policy and investment opportunities in several sectors, especially electronic and telecom hardware and software Mr. Das said the Government is in talks with Taiwanese manufacturing firms that want to invest  here. A Tamil Nadu delegation will visit Taiwan in the near future.

The Taiwanese delegation expressed concern about several issues that could hinder bilateral trade.  Stable tax regulations and a way to repatriate profits, more venture capi9talists and a better infrastructure -- "our high-tech industry won't tolerate one second of power outage" --are needed to attract clusters of Taiwanese industries, the delegation said.

The Members called for two-way interaction, inviting Indian talent to work in Taiwanese science parks.  India must encourage tourism, export Bollywood and promote student exchange programs, they said.