Taipei, Feb. 25, 2010 (CENS)--SITC Maritime (Group) Co., Ltd., China`s largest private shipping firm, has applied to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) to set up a branch in Taiwan, becoming the first China-based shipping firm to do so after the cross-strait direct transportation links are realized.

MOTC said it would approve the shipping firm to set up a branch in Taiwan if it is proved qualified. The entry of the China-based shipping firm is expected to benefit domestic maritime transportation firms, including Evergreen Marine Corp. and Yangming Marine Transport Corp. In addition, the proposed maritime negotiation talks across the Taiwan Strait will begin sometime in March this year.

At the end of 2008, Taiwan and China signed an agreement concerning cross-strait maritime affairs, calling for the establishment of liaison offices and business footholds by shipping firms. But no firm has filed applications with the MOTC for setting up branches in Taiwan until recently.

The MOTC said SITC has been offering direct-shipping services across the Taiwan Strait and China`s communication authority has approved its application to set up a branch in Taiwan. The MOTC said it would quickly review the application filed by SITC.

An MOTC official noted after setting up a branch in Taiwan, SITC will be approved to collect shipping goods by itself without having to rely on representative agents in Taiwan.

The MOTC said it would screen the application filed by SITC in accordance with the same standards as applied to foreign shipping forwarders.

(by Ben Shen)