Taiwan Expands Presence in India with New Mumbai Office
In a significant move to strengthen bilateral ties, Taiwan has inaugurated its new office in Mumbai, marking its third location in India. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in Mumbai was officially opened on October 16, 2024, coinciding with the 113th National Day of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
In a congratulatory video message, Taiwan Foreign Minister Chia-Lung Lin highlighted the remarkable progress in India-Taiwan relations, attributing it to the success of Taiwan’s “New Southbound Policy” and India’s “Act East Policy”.
Taiwan Ambassador Baushuan Ger in his remark said that Under Taiwan’s flagship New Southbound Policy to engage our 18 partner countries in Southeast Asia and South Asia, India is our priority.
“With our joint efforts, the bilateral trade between Taiwan and India increased from 5 billion USD in 2016 to 8.2 billion USD in 2023. India stands as Taiwan’s 16th largest trading partner. More than 260 Taiwanese companies have set up their operation in India. They have invested 5 billion USD cumulatively and created over 170,000 employment opportunities.” said Ambassador Baushuan Ger
The Mumbai office will cater to four major western Indian states – Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa – as well as the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. This strategic location is expected to foster bilateral economic, technological, educational, and cultural exchanges.
India and Taiwan share common democratic values, and their relations have gained momentum over the years. The two nations have collaborated in various sectors, including agriculture, investments, heritage railways, civil aviation, and industrial cooperation.
The establishment of the TECC in Mumbai demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to enhancing bilateral ties with India. As the two nations continue to work together, this new office is poised to play a pivotal role in promoting mutual growth and cooperation.
Taiwan’s expanding presence in India follows the successful operations of its offices in New Delhi (1995) and Chennai (2012). The bilateral trade between India and Taiwan has increased significantly, from $2 billion in 2006 to $8.9 billion in 2021.
In the year of 1995, Taiwan and India established representations, namely India Taipei Association in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in New Delhi. The two offices have served as platforms for various collaborations between our two countries, mainly on trade and investment, education and culture as well as science and technology.
The inauguration of the Mumbai office marks a new chapter in India-Taiwan relations, paving the way for increased collaboration and people-to-people exchanges.