TAIPEI, Taiwan — State officials are celebrating the set up of a new office in the country of Taiwan.
After a trip to the country by Senate President Craig Blair, Secretary of Economic Development Mitch Carmichael, Economic Development Director Mike Graney, and Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, a new trade office was established in an effort to attract more investment from Taiwan in West Virginia. The group visited the Taipei World Trade Center in Taipei Thursday.
The sole purpose of the new office will be to promote the state and encourage Taiwanese investment. It will also assist West Virginia businesses with exporting their products and services to Taiwan.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Thursday where Senate President Blair pledged to establish a long-term relationship with Taiwan and allow the West Virginia to become more competitive in its mission to attract new investment opportunities.
Blair made a visit to Taiwan five years ago and said he sees a lot of similarities between it and his home state.
“When I first visited Taiwan in 2018, I knew that it was a special place, and I began working on ways we could set up a West Virginia trade office here,” Blair said. “The people of Taiwan are exactly like the great people of West Virginia. They’re both family oriented, industrious, innovative, and extremely warm, caring and welcoming.”
APG Polytech, a Taiwanese company, is set up in Mason County. Senate President Blair said this week’s trade mission has opened even more doors.
“This partnership in trade will prove prosperous and beneficial to all involved,” said Blair. “I am so excited to see what having a permanent physical presence in Taiwan will bring to us in terms of new jobs and opportunities for the people of West Virginia.”
Speaker Hanshaw is eager to see a relationship with Taiwan and West Virginia strengthen over time.
“We’ve all learned that even though we can do just about anything virtually, there’s still something special about a handshake and a face-to-face conversation,” Speaker Hanshaw said. “Our relationship with our friends here in Taiwan is special, and I’m excited West Virginia will be on the ground here to actively recruit companies that would be a great fit for the economy we’ve been building here in the Mountain State.”
