MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu addresses participants at the Forum on Supply Chain Restructuring Sept. 4 in Taipei City. (MOFA)
 

A supply chain restructuring forum jointly staged by Taiwan, the EU, Japan and the U.S. was held Sept. 4 in Taipei City, underscoring the like-minded partners’ commitment to securing key industries in the post-pandemic world, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The one-day event was organized by the MOFA together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), American Institute in Taiwan, European Economic and Trade Office and Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association.

Attendees included AIT Director Brent Christensen, EETO head Filip Grzegorzewski​​​, JTEA Rep. Hiroyasu Izumi and Czech Republic Senate President Milos Vystrcil.

In his opening remarks, MOFA Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu said the pandemic has exposed the risks of overreliance on a single source for critical materials. Supply chain security is also national security, and Taiwan is committed to working with its like-minded partners to establish reciprocal industrial ties that lead to shared prosperity, he added

In response, Christensen said countries around the world are reconsidering their global strategies, adding Taiwan is a reliable partner that can play a leading role in building a more sustainable global economy.

AIT and TAITRA issued a joint statement following the event pledging to enhance collaboration in the critical information and communication technology and medical sectors.

According to the statement, AIT and TAITRA will encourage their partners to bring supply chains home or relocate to friendly economies, creating new networks based on shared values that are secure and free from political coercion. Both sides also agreed to share best practices and cooperate on activities such as sending delegations to third countries and organizing conferences.

Priority regions to develop supply chains include Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, India and the Visegrad Group, the statement said, adding this is consistent with Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy.

The NSP is a central plank in the government’s national development plan. It seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 ASEAN member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand. (SFC-E)