Wed, Nov 01, 2023 page3

• Montana governor optimistic about ties

  ‘STRONG BOND’: The president welcomed Greg Gianforte, saying that Taiwan hopes to expand partnerships in areas such as semiconductors, auto electronics and photonics

  • By Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporter
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  Taiwan and Montana can both benefit from deeper partnerships in key industries, President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday told Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, who expressed optimism regarding cooperation between his state and Taiwan.

  Gianforte, who is leading an economic and trade delegation to Taiwan for six days ending on Friday, met with Tsai at the Presidential Office.

  Tsai thanked him for reopening the State of Montana Asia Trade Office in Taiwan after becoming governor in 2021, saying it was a concrete move that helped the two sides continue to reinforce bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

  

  President Tsai Ing-wen, front, left, shakes hands with Montana Governor Greg Gianforte at the Presidential Office in Taipei yesterday.

  Photo: CNA

  Taiwan and Montana have long enjoyed close cooperation in agriculture and tourism, as large numbers of Taiwanese tourists visit the state every year and agricultural goods from Montana are popular among Taiwanese consumers, she said.

  Montana is known for its auto electronics and photonics industries, and is developing its biotechnology, cloud computing and aerospace industries, Tsai said.

  Gianforte’s efforts in promoting tax incentives and deregulation have created job opportunities and stimulated investment, she said.

  As Montana’s seventh-largest trade partner, Taiwan hopes to deepen partnerships in key areas such as auto electronics, photonics and semiconductors, she said.

  Tsai also thanked the Montana Senate and House of Representatives for passing Taiwan-friendly resolutions in support of the nation’s international participation.

  Gianforte said that the state legislature passes resolutions in support of Taiwan every two years to “reinforce” its ties with the nation.

  Montana “has shared a strong bond with Taiwan” since they established a sister-state relationship in 1985, he said.

  “It’s only fitting that I lead my first international trade mission as governor to this great country” two years after the reopening of its trade office in Taipei, Gianforte said.

  Ties between the two sides have been growing stronger through bilateral trade and educational exchanges, and because of their shared values of freedom and free enterprise, he said.

  Montana has great scenery and quality beef and wheat, Gianforte said, adding that a delegation of Taiwanese flour milling industry representatives visited the state earlier this year.

  The relationship between Montana and Taiwan has developed beyond trade in agricultural products, and is rapidly growing in other areas such as education, bioscience and photonics, he said.

  In cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, a Mandarin program for high-school and college students is to be launched at the University of Montana’s Mansfield Center next year, Gianforte said.

  With support from the ministries, Montana Technological University and Taiwan’s Minghsin University of Science and Technology are to offer short-term exchange programs to nurture semiconductor talent, he said.

  Considering the photonics industry’s importance and potential in the 21st century, “it is imperative that we work to build this industry for our state, and Taiwan is a key partner in this,” Gianforte said.

  The delegation is to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Taiwan-USA Industrial Cooperation Promotion Office and Taiwan’s Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association to facilitate the cooperation, he added.
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