On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), Director-General Scott Lai, accompanied by Director Rose Chen and Deputy Director Eric Chao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston (TECO-Boston) visited Maine Governor Paul LePage and state government officials in Augusta on February 14 and 15. Mr. Lai expressed appreciation for their long-term support for Taiwan and Taiwan’s desire to strengthen practical cooperation and exchange with Maine in various areas.
Governor LePage and Commissioner George Gervais of Maine’s Department of Economic and Community Development welcomed Director-General Lai and expressed appreciation for TECO-Boston’s efforts to maintain strong bilateral relations between Maine and Taiwan for many years. The Governor and the Commissioner noted that Maine has a well-developed fisheries and agriculture industry. Maine's lobster production is also ranked the highest in the United States. The state looks to promote products such as lobster and blueberries, as well as strengthen bilateral exchanges in higher education. In turn, Mr. Lai expressed Taiwan’s willingness to strengthen cooperation under the existing bilateral Memorandum of Understanding in Education. Additionally, Mr. Lai said that if the Maine state government signs a mutual driver's license conversion agreement with Taiwan, it will become an even greater incentive for manufacturers and students to invest in Maine thereby further strengthening the Maine-Taiwan partnership.
Taiwan is the U.S.’ tenth largest trading partner, with a total of $65 billion in 2016 and Taiwan is the U.S.’ second largest per capita consumption of agricultural products. In terms of bilateral trade, the U.S. is Taiwan’s largest source of foreign investment while Taiwan’s investment in the U.S has created more than 320,000 jobs. Taiwan is also Maine’s seventh largest export market and Maine’s eighteenth largest import market, with a total of $72 million in 2016. Maine’s major industries include fishing and agriculture, paper products, biochemical technology, tourism and the defense industry.
