Washington State’s Departments of Agriculture and Commerce have jointly designated Mr. Sean Fogarty, President of American State Offices Association (ASOA), as Washington State’s representative in Taiwan. Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle welcomes this important decision as it shows the strong partnership between Taiwan and Washington State.
This designation is made possible because of the efforts of the two state departments and support from the legislative leaders. “Washington State has some of the strongest and most active trade relationships in the United States. We look forward to strengthening those ties in Taiwan where there is so much shared opportunity, and we deeply appreciate our partnership with TECO,” Commerce Director Lisa Brown said. “Taiwan is a critical market for Washington food, beverage and agricultural exports. We look forward to a continuing and mutually beneficial relationship with the Department of Commerce in Taiwan and the valuable assistance that TECO can provide, ” Agriculture Director Derek Sandison said. TECO in Seattle will continue to cooperate with all stakeholders to enhance the already robust bilateral relationship.
Taiwan is a major destination for Washington exports of commercial products and agricultural goods, and it has been Washington State’s 4th largest trading partner in Asia, the first place on a per capita basis. Taiwan is also a growing source of students, tourists and foreign direct investment to Washington State.
Mr. Fogarty’s long-term dedication to promote substantive relations between Washington State and Taiwan is also highly appreciated by both departments and TECO in Seattle. There will be a series of trade shows, showcase events, webinars, and one-on-one consultations being held by the Trade Development Office in the upcoming months, and TECO in Seattle encourages Washington companies and exporters to explore business opportunities in Taiwan.
