In 2025, it will be three decades since India and Taiwan established representations - India Taipei Association in Taipei and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in New Delhi - platforms that have served various collaborations in trade, investment, education, culture, science and technology.
The growing friendship got a major boost on Wednesday as Taiwan opened its third mission in Mumbai, 12 years after it set up its mission in Chennai benefitting Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh by bringing huge Taiwanese investment, especially key manufacturing industries to their shore.
"Up to now, more than 60 per cent of Taiwanese investment has concentrated in those four southern states," said Baushuan Ger, Taiwan’s representative to India. But now, the TECC in Mumbai will serve four major states- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Goa—as well as the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu. Homer Chang will be the Director General of the new office.
The setting up of this key strategic hub is being seen as a leap in Taiwan’s "New Southbound Policy" to further its regional integration with Southeast and south Asia.
For India, it is also a step forward in its "Act East Policy", given common interests not just in trade and investment but strengthening the Indo Pacific strategy that places Taiwan as a key partner for peace and stability as any disruption in the Taiwan Strait will impact India as well.
The boost in cooperation between Taipei and Maharashtra and neighbouring states is expected to give a foothold to more than 260 Taiwanese companies in the financial capital, who have set up their operations in India and have currently invested 5 billion USD and created over 170,000 job opportunities. In 2023, the bilateral trade between Taiwan and India increased from 5 billion USD in 2016 to 8.2 billion USD. Today, India stands as Taiwan’s 16th largest trading partner.
Over the years, the TECC has overseen various collaborations between the two countries, mainly on trade, investment, education, culture and science and technology. The larger focus on people to people contact prompted Taiwan to set up an Education Center in Chennai to create a local pool of Mandarin-speaking experts who can play a critical role in helping Taiwan’s small and medium enterprises to enter and invest in India. In 2024, as many as 37 Taiwan Education Centers with over 14,000 university and school students are enrolled to learn Mandarin.
The third mission of Taiwan is expected to broaden the collaborations further. "Since Taiwan sees India as a trusted friend and partner," said Ger, adding that the country looks forward to developing or enhancing many of the industrial sectors. He quoted Taiwan President Lai Ching-te in his National Day Address on October 10, as saying, "In the fast-changing international landscape, Taiwan is a force for regional peace, stability and prosperity. Taiwan will more vigorously develop its five trusted sectors, namely semiconductors, AI, defence, security and surveillance and next-generation communications and help expand their global presence".
