Trade & International Relations Bureau

Taiwan Province

Taiwan Map

Montana formalized relations with Taiwan at the signing of a Communiqué in May 1983. The agreement was signed by Montana Governor Schwinden and Taiwan Province Governor Lee. Lee later progressed in Taiwan politics and served as President of the Republic of China on Taiwan 1988-2000. In 1985 Governors' Schwinden and Chiu Chuang-haun signed a sister state agreement between the state of Montana and Taiwan province. In 1991 Montana Department of Agriculture Director Everett Snortland signed an Agricultural Cooperative Agreement between theState of Montana and the Council of Agriculture of the Republic of China. In 1994 Governor Marc Racicot signed an Agreement of Mutual Cooperation between the State of Montana and the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei of the Republic of China. In 1997, the Montana Legislature passed HJR 7, a joint resolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the State of Montana supporting full membership in the United Nations for the Republic of China on Taiwan.

CKS Memorial Hall

In 1988, Montana opened in Taiwan the state’s first overseas trade office. The office is located in the Taipei World Trade Center and has been staffed since its opening by Mrs. Mei Mei Wang. In 2000, the responsibilities of the Taiwan Trade Office were expanded to include promotional activities in the greater China area of Hong Kong and mainland China. The official name of the office was changed to be the Montana Asia Pacific Trade Office to reference the greater China trade promotion area.

Taiwan City Scene

Taiwan is one of Montana's premier foreign markets for agricultural commodities. With roughly 60 percent of the state’s annual wheat production sold to Asian markets, Taiwan consistently ranks as one of the top three importers of the state's Hard Red Winter and Hard Red Spring wheat crop and, periodically, as a leading buyer of barley and durum.

Palace National Museum

Taiwan has become a major market for Montana producers of industrial machinery; analyzing, measuring, and controlling instruments; and chemical products. It is also a significant market for the state's small and medium-size manufacturers as well as its organic grain producers. From sales totaling less than $600,000 in 1988, manufactured exports to Taiwan exceeded $17.7 million for 2000.

Taiwan

To help Montana companies exploit the dynamic market opportunities in Taiwan, the Montana Asia Pacific Trade Office provides on-going marketing support and technical assistance to Montana exporters and on an annual basis organizes numerous product promotions, trade fairs, seminars, and business meetings for the state's export community. The office also routinely hosts business visitors and trade delegations from Montana and schedules itineraries in support of their activities. For Montana companies seeking foreign sources of supply or access to local manufacturing, the office makes introductions to Chinese and Taiwanese manufactures and wholesalers.

Taiwan at Night

The Montana Asia Pacific Trade Office also plays an important role in promoting Montana as a tourist destination for Chinese visitors. Each year the office represents the state at a variety of travel industry trade shows and works with the local media in generating numerous stories to keep Montana in the forefront of the traveling consumer's mind. The office also maintains a Chinese-language website linked to 42 websites, portals, and search engines located in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and China. Over 28,000 Taiwanese visit Montana annually.