The Economic Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), Canada was in Saskatoon Monday, January 13, 2014 and Photo 1-14-2014, 10 12 23 Tuesday, January 14, 2014 for a trade and investment seminar. This delegation included Dr. Chih-Kung Liu, Ambassador, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada; Dr. Shun-Hua Wei, Director, Science and Technology Division, TECO Canada; Mr. Martin Chen, Executive Assistant Director, Economic Division, TECO Canada; Ms. Vivian Su, Assistant Director, TECO in Vancouver; and Mr. Scott Yang, Director, Taiwan Trade Center in Vancouver. In recent years Saskatchewan and Taiwan’s exports and exporters have benefitted from record sales levels indicative of long-term trends towards continued growth. “The main purpose of this first trip is to become better acquainted with each other, better learn what Saskatchewan wants and what Taiwan can offer,” says Dr. Chih-Kung Liu, Ambassador, TECO Canada. The top items exported from Saskatchewan to Taiwan continue to be in the agricultural field including Durum Wheat, Canola Oil and Colza or Rape Oil. Currently, Taiwan is the United States top sixth largest grains export market. In 2012, Taiwan imported a total of 1.2 million tons of Durum Wheat. In the same year, Saskatchewan’s total Durum Wheat exports were 3.2 million tons. “Taiwan is indeed a huge potential market for Saskatchewan,” says Tim LeClair, President and CEO of SREDA. “By hosting the delegation we will build a strong relationship that will further enhance the trade and investment relationship between Saskatoon and Taiwan.” Taiwan is a leading information hardware production country in the world. Minerals from Saskatchewan are also in high demand in Taiwan’s high-tech industry including Coal, Nickel, Zinc, Lead, and Copper. Potash was one of the top five items that Taiwan imported from Saskatchewan in 2012, making it the 15th largest export country of that year. Also, State-owned enterprise, Taiwan Power Corp., has a long term procurement contract with Cameco. Under this contract, TaiPower will purchase 700,000 pounds of Uranium material from Cameco each year. Dr. Chih-Kung Liu, Ambassador, TECO Canada met with Mayor Donald Atchison during the visit to Saskatoon. “I believe we make excellent partners and there is great potential to expand our relationship not only in areas of trade and investment, but also in other areas such as tourism, higher education and science and technology,” states Liu. “We are confident that Taiwan and Saskatoon complement each other perfectly in the field of agri-food, mining, energy and manufacturing, as well as the growing IT industry,” says Martin Chen, Executive Assistant Director, Economic Division, TECO Canada. In 2010, Saskatchewan was the highest per capita exporting province in Canada exporting approximately $23,050 worth of goods for every person in the province. And Taiwan is enthusiastically demonstrating its’ appetite for its products.
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