Indiana Secretary of Commerce David Rosenberg visited the Indiana Economic Development Corp office in Taipei to strengthen collaborations with Taiwanese businesses, focusing especially on the semiconductor industry. The new Indiana office in Taiwan is anticipated to strengthen relationships and uncover new opportunities for collaboration with Taiwanese companies. This initiative aligns with Indiana’s strategy to attract investment and build strong supply chains in critical areas such as microchips, artificial intelligence, and agricultural biotechnology, according to Rosenberg.
"Indiana’s reputation as a forward-thinking, globally engaged economy is on the rise. We are eager to showcase our ambitious vision to industry and government leaders in Taiwan during this visit", Rosenberg remarked. During his visit, Rosenberg will meet with officials from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, major semiconductor firm MediaTek, and the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association.
Dennis Lei, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, expressed enthusiasm about the new office and Rosenberg’s visit. He believes the Indiana office will boost US-Taiwan cooperation, reinforce supply chains, stabilize relations, and promote deeper technological, economic, educational, and cultural exchanges between the two regions.
Indiana and Taiwan established sister-state relations in 1979, with Indiana being the first US state to do so. Taiwan is now Indiana’s fourth-largest trading partner in Asia. During Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb's visit to Taiwan in 2022, a memorandum of understanding was signed to enhance bilateral trade and foster collaboration in science, technology, academia, and talent acquisition.
Last year, MediaTek, a leading Taiwanese microchip company, established a research and development center at Purdue University in Indiana. Additionally, Taiwanese institutions such as National Cheng Kung University, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, and National Chengchi University have formed partnerships with Indiana. This year, Indiana University Bloomington also joined the Taiwan Huayu Bilingual Exchanges of Selected Talent Program, which aims to strengthen faculty and student exchanges and promote Taiwanese culture.