The seventh U.S. Business Day was staged Oct. 4 in Taipei City, generating US$168.3 million in opportunities for Taiwan and U.S. firms and further strengthening the economic partnership between the two sides, according to Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).
 
Organized by the council and the Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the event was attended by 12 U.S. enterprises, 116 local companies and the economic development offices of Arkansas, Hawaii, Louisiana and Wyoming.
 
According to TAITRA, U.S. firms inked procurement deals in such potential-laden sectors as automobile and electric vehicle parts, biotech and medical devices, electronics components, information and communication technology, Internet of Things and smart machinery.
 
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua said that Taiwan and the U.S. enjoy long-standing ties and frequent exchanges in areas spanning culture, education, trade and tourism. This relationship is going from strength to strength as evidenced by Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead’s attendance at this year’s U.S. Business Day and the inauguration of the U.S. state’s Asia-Pacific Trade Office in Taipei the previous day, she added.
 
American Institute in Taiwan Deputy Director Raymond Greene expressed thanks to the MOEA and TAITRA for consistently supporting U.S. trade and investment initiatives. Taiwan’s democratic institutions and dynamic market make it a natural export destination for U.S. firms, he said, adding that the U.S. is proud to be Taiwan’s second largest trading partner and looks forward to further expanding this economic relationship.
 
Staged annually in Taipei since 2012, U.S. Business Day is one of the most important events for deepening the robust trade and investment links between the two sides. According to TAITRA, Taiwan-U.S. trade volume grew 8 percent year on year to US$34.81 billion in the first half of 2018. (KWS-E)
 
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