TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan officially opened its third diplomatic mission in India on Wednesday (Oct. 16) in Mumbai.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Mumbai held an inauguration ceremony and National Day reception on Wednesday evening. Taiwan's representative to India, Baushuan Ger (葛葆萱), and the first head of the Mumbai office, Chang Chun-yu (張均宇), co-hosted the event. 

Over 100 attendees, including former Indian MP Sujeet Kumar and various dignitaries and members of the local consular corps, offered their congratulations.

Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said in a pre-recorded video that relations between Taiwan and India have steadily warmed since establishing mutual representative offices in 1995. Lin said the new office in Mumbai showcases the results of Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and India's Act East policy in fostering greater interaction. 

He hoped the two countries would deepen cooperation in areas such as economics, trade, investment, science, technology, culture, and education.

The Mumbai office is Taiwan's third diplomatic mission in India and MOFA said it will “serve as a bridge connecting Taiwan with Western India.” It will provide services such as business travel, visa processing, document authentication, and emergency assistance to Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Goa, as well as the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. 

The office will coordinate with the Taipei Representative Office in India and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Chennai.