Hiring an international trade representative was one of several calls to action in Enrolled Act 37 approved by the Wyoming Legislature and signed by Gov. Matt Mead this spring. The Wyoming Business Council engaged with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs once the act passed and received initial approval for the state trade office.
“The Business Council is working quickly to increase Wyoming's international prosperity ? particularly for our food and manufactured goods,” Business Council CEO Shawn Reese said.
The Business Council, the state’s economic development agency, seeks a trade representative to network with buyers and distributors in Taiwan and establish relationships between those entities and Wyoming businesses. The trade representative will also educate Wyoming businesses on exporting to Taiwan and build market profiles to find market demand Wyoming can fulfill.
Wyoming’s Taiwan trade representative will also be required to attend trade industry events and help Wyoming exporters traveling to Taiwan. The Business Council is securing space in the Taipei World Trade Center.
“On behalf of the people and government of Taiwan, I would like to extend to you our heartfelt welcome,” Vincent C.H. Yao, director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, said. “With a trade representative in place, Wyoming can first raise the profile of its quality products to the 23.5 million people in Taiwan, and then engage in bilateral cooperation in the areas of agriculture, energy, education, tourism and beyond.”
The launch of a trade office in Taiwan reflects already cordial ties between Taiwan and Wyoming, Yao continued, and demonstrates the mutual determination to strengthen and deepen the relationship.
The Wyoming chemical and manufacturing industries already have footholds in Taiwan, which is an ideal foundation from which to launch into other Asian markets in the future. The trade representative will also have agriculture as a priority target market in Taiwan.
“Asia is a rapidly growing market with a swelling middle class seeking the kinds of products Wyoming businesses can provide,” Briana Tanaka, agriculture and international trade coordinator for the Business Council, said.
Expanding markets for Wyoming companies is a key focus for the Business Council.
Proposals are due May 11. More application information can be found on the Business Council website at http://wyomingbusiness.org/exports. The Business Council intends to have a trade representative established in Taipei, Taiwan, by July 1.
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