Governor Gianforte takes trip to strengthen Montana-Taiwan bond
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Governor Gianforte meeting with President Tsai of Taiwan.
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Gov. Gianforte and Dr. Mon-Chi Lio of Taiwan sign a memorandum of understanding between Montana and Taiwan education leaders.
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Gov. Gianforte tours Minghsin University of science and technology.
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Gov. Gianforte discusses bioscience industry with executive Yuan Premier Chen.
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Gov. Gianforte tours Mayfull’s steak aging facility.
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News from the office of Governor Gianforte
TAIPEI — Governor Greg Gianforte recently met with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan to strengthen Montana’s relationship with its longstanding partner and ally.
“Montana and Taiwan share nearly four decades of history as trading partners and friends, built on our common values of individual liberty, innovation, and free enterprise,” Gov. Gianforte said. “It was an honor to meet with President Tsai this morning to convey our appreciation for this longstanding partnership and our optimism for the future.”
President Tsai hosted Gov. Gianforte at the Presidential Office Building in Taipei for the meeting.
“I would like to begin by welcoming Governor Gianforte as he leads this economic and trade delegation. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend our sincere gratitude to him for making Taiwan the first stop of his trip. I am also grateful to Governor Gianforte for reopening the State of Montana Asia Trade Office-Taiwan after taking office in 2021 to continue strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation through concrete action,” President Tsai said.
Industry, educational partnerships ushers in new opportunities
Also announced were new industry and educational partnerships to strengthen Montana’s relationship with Taiwan and increase opportunities for Montanans.
“When we reopened our Montana Asia Trade Office in Taipei in 2021, we ushered in a new era of opportunity for the people of Montana and Taiwan,” Gov. Gianforte said. “These new strategic partnerships among education, trade, and industry leaders will expand those opportunities even further, boosting growing industries in Montana and deepening our bond with our friend and ally.”
First, Gov. Gianforte announced memorandums of understanding (MOU) between leaders in the photonics industry in Montana and Taiwan to boost advanced manufacturing in the state.
Quantum Composers entered into a MOU with Hua Laser Electro-Optics Co., and the Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance entered into a MOU with the Taiwan U.S. Industrial Promotion Office.
“We are partnering with key leaders from Taiwan to be able to create partnerships for our members, to open up both the supply chain of Taiwan to America as well as for American products to be sold into Taiwan – creating channels of partnership,” Jason Yager, President of the Montana Photonics and Quantum Alliance said.
Second, Gov. Gianforte announced a MOU between the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Taiwan Ministry of Education Taiwan to create a Mandarin language program housed at the Mansfield Center within the University of Montana and an educational exchange program at Montana Technological University.
“Montana students will benefit from this important agreement negotiated by Governor Gianforte. The new Mandarin program and student exchange will open new opportunities and career paths for students. The Montana University System looks forward to engaging in this strategic partnership,” Commissioner of Higher Education Clay Christian said.
Finally, the governor announced a MOU between the Montana Department of Commerce and the Importers and Exporters Association of Taiwan (IEAT) to grow and expand trade.
Governor promotes Montana’s semiconductor industry on trade mission
On Nov. 2 Governor Greg Gianforte toured Minghsin University of Science and Technology (MUST) and participated in a roundtable discussion to promote Montana’s semiconductor industry.
“Semiconductor machinery is our second largest export to Taiwan, totaling $30 million in sales last year,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Through Montana Tech’s strategic partnership with Minghsin University of Science and Technology, we’ll build a stronger Montana workforce, boost our semiconductor industry, and further strengthen our ties with Taiwan.”
Earlier today, the governor highlighted a partnership between the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education and the Taiwan Ministry of Education to facilitate short-term exchanges between Montana Technological University and MUST.
Through the exchange, students at Montana Tech will learn about semiconductor manufacturing and Taiwanese culture.
MUST is Taiwan’s premier school focused on meeting the talent demand of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan.
Governor promotes Montana cattle industry at steak aging facility
Continuing his trade mission in Taiwan, the Governor discussed Montana’s growing bioscience industry with Premier Chen Chien-jen of the Executive Yuan, who leads Taiwan’s executive branch.
“Montana ranks sixth among states for bioscience industry growth over the last five years, and fifth in the nation for growth in research and development expenditures,” Gov. Gianforte said. “This means our bioscience industry is expanding, and we’re at the tip of the spear for cutting-edge research.”
The governor promoted a partnership between Missoula-based Inimmune and Taipei-based ImmunAdd, which are collaborating to develop an adjuvant.
The governor also spotlighted Solo-Dex, a Montana company developing an innovative regional anesthesia that would greatly reduce risks with general anesthesia.
In 2005, the Executive Yuan created the Bio Taiwan Committee aimed at developing the bioscience industry in the country.
The governor also toured the steak aging facility of Mayfull, one of the largest food importers in Taiwan which specializes in beef.
“The people of Taiwan know what Montanans know to be true – Montana beef is the best in the world,” Gov. Gianforte said. “I look forward to expanding our ranchers’ access to this important market.”
Beef is Montana’s third largest export to Taiwan, totaling $16 million in sales last year.
MUST is Taiwan’s premier school focused on meeting the talent demand of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan.
