TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Representative to India Baushuan Ger (葛葆萱) said on Tuesday (Oct. 8) that Taiwan will open its third diplomatic mission in India next week.
During a program to celebrate Taiwan's National Day held in New Delhi on Tuesday, Ger said:
“Although geographically distant, our shared commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights, and the rule of law has been instrumental in deepening our bilateral cooperation across many sectors," per ETV Bharat.
He pointed out that although the Republic of China briefly had diplomatic relations with India from 1947 to 1949, it was not until 1995 that Taiwan and India re-established exchanges and set up representative offices in New Delhi and Taipei.
Ger said: “Following our Chennai office set up in 2012, I am pleased to announce that we will inaugurate our third mission, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Mumbai next week.”
“While the 30th anniversary is approaching, through these three missions, we look forward to working closely with our partners across India to bring bilateral ties to new heights.”
Ger said since the convergence of Taiwan's New Southbound Policy and India's Act East policy, bilateral trade between the two countries has risen by 64% from US$5 billion (NT$161 billion) in 2016 to US$8.2 billion in 2023. He pointed out that India has now become Taiwan's 16th largest trading partner.
He estimated that 260 Taiwanese firms now operate in India with a cumulative investment of US$5 billion. The industries range from footwear, machinery, and auto parts to petrol chemicals and ICT products.
The representative described the contributions of Taiwanese enterprises in India as “remarkable.” Ger said that collectively, the companies have generated over 170,000 jobs in India.
"Not only do they bring advanced technology and management expertise but also create vast employment opportunities and contribute to the goal of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat,’" said Ger. Atmanirbhar Bharat translates as “self-reliant India” and is a slogan popularized by Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi as part of his vision for the country's economic development.
Ger said the memorandum of understanding signed in February to facilitate the employment of Indian workers in Taiwan would further enable people-to-people exchanges and offer new opportunities for Indian youth.
"With the ongoing technology-transfer collaborative project between Taiwan's PSMC and India's Tata Electronics in constructing the first 12-inch semiconductor fab in Dholera, Gujarat, we have shown a clear and sustained commitment to deepening industrial cooperation to help strengthen India's manufacturing and semiconductor ecosystems," said Ger.
In the field of education, Ger said over 36 Taiwan Education Centers have been established on Indian university campuses, enabling over 14,000 Indian students to study Mandarin. “Along with approximately 3,000 Indian students studying in Taiwan at present, this growing number of students will serve as a bridge of friendship, connecting peoples and cultures from both countries,” said Ger.
