Taipei: Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has signed an economic cooperation agreement with Taiwan and announced plans to establish a state representative office in the country. The announcement was made during the governor’s recent visit, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
According to Focus Taiwan, during Governor Lee’s brief stay in Taiwan from Monday through Tuesday, he and his delegation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on economic and trade cooperation with Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs. The move signifies an important step in strengthening ties between Tennessee and Taiwan. MOFA also reported that Governor Lee announced plans to open a Tennessee representative office in Taiwan.
During a dinner held at the MOFA headquarters in Taipei, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung extended a warm welcome to Governor Lee and his delegation. Minister Lin expressed gratitude for the governor’s support of various Taiwan-friendly resolutions passed by Tennessee’s bicameral legislature over the past five years, since Lee’s tenure began in 2019. Lin emphasized the potential for enhanced cooperation in fields such as supply chains, education, and talent development.
Taiwan ranks as Tennessee’s 18th largest export market and seventh largest source of imports. According to a separate release from the Tennessee State government, Taiwan was a key destination in Governor Lee’s Asia trip, which also included visits to South Korea and Japan with Deputy Governor and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart C. McWhorter. This trip underscores Tennessee’s commitment to expanding its economic footprint in Asia.
The planned opening of the Tennessee representative office in Taiwan will expand the state’s international presence, marking its sixth foreign direct investment office. Currently, Tennessee operates five such offices in strategic locations across Europe and Asia. The establishment of the new office in Taiwan aligns with the broader trend, as a total of 24 U.S. states and territories currently have representative offices in Taiwan.