Developing Taiwan’s Economic and Trade Sectors and Connecting with the World The 70th Anniversary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei

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Founded in 1947, the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT) has adapted to Taiwan’s economic transformations by helping the import and export industries open up new markets, take advantage of potential business opportunities, and play the role of a mediator between the government and the industries. Over the past 70 years, the IEAT has engaged in numerous endeavors, creating Taiwan’s glorious history. To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the IEAT held a series of events ,including global strategic alliance contract-signing press conference, global trade forum, and dinner banquets to allow its guests and members to witness the historical moment.

The Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei’s Global Strategic Alliance Contract-signing Ceremony and Press Conference to Celebrate Its 70th Anniversary Forming an Alliance with Key Trade Organizations to Connect to the World and Expand Global Trade Markets

At the press conference, the IEAT announced that it has formed an alliance with five of the world’s major global trade organizations: the Foreign Trade Association (of Europe), the Sapporo Chamber of Commerce and Industry (of Japan), the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (of Malaysia), the Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (of India), and the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and Industry (of Russia). These efforts will allow the IEAT and Taiwan to expand their international markets. As of today, the IEAT has formed an alliance with 39 countries and 86 industrial and commercial associations around the world.

Huang Cheng-Tsung, chairman of the IEAT, stated that the 70-year-old history of the IEAT echoed with Taiwan’s industry developments, in which Taiwanese businessmen’s abilities to trade with the rest of the world were revealed. Although constantly challenged with hardships and obstacles, the IEAT and Taiwan’s industries have enjoyed fruitful results, creating an economic miracle that amazed the world.

Wang Mei-hua, vice Minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, indicated that despite being a small country, Taiwan plays a crucial role in global economic and trade industries, and that the fruitful results that it has yielded were made possible because of the joint efforts of the IEAT and Taiwanese businessmen. Despite the prevalence of protectionism, globalization is inevitable. In the face of the uncertainties that arise, the Taiwanese government and the IEAT will work together and respond accordingly in order to develop Taiwan’s economy.

The Global Trade Forum on Development of Global Strategic Alliance To Adapt to Changes, the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei Works with Taiwanese Businessmen to Develop Economic and Trade Opportunities

To celebrate its 70th anniversary, the Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT) hosted the Global Trade Forum and invited elites from domestic and foreign professional industries, governments, and academic institutions and to tackle the highly anticipated topics of new U.S. government trade policies, Asia’s emerging Economic clout the advent of the digital era, Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, and cross-strait trade and commerce together. Key trends were subsequently observed and analyzed. In addition, Vice President Chen Chien-jen was invited to the event to offer his advice and witness the IEAT and its sister organizations’ global strategic alliance endeavors.

Vice President Chen praised for the IEAT’s vigorous efforts to sign memorandum of understanding (MOUs) with 80 commerce and industry associations from over 30 countries and become sister organizations with various institutions to facilitate global deployment and strategic alliance. He also indicated that the promotion of economic and trade work is a diversified process, and that future interactions with the U.S., new southbound countries, and mainland China will be based on the principle of mutual benefits. The goal is to engage in cooperation rather than confrontation, create value rather than grab value, and maximize business opportunities between Taiwan and its trade partners, creating a win–win situation for the all parties.

The forum began with Robert Manogue, the Director of the Office of Bilateral Trade Affairs ,Department of state,delivering first-hand messages from Washington D.C. Mr. Manogue highlighted that free trade agreements between Taiwan and the U.S. was a crucial topic of discussion and that bilateral relations between the two sides must be emphasized. Later, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, the father and former Secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), provided an in-depth analysis on the rise of Asian economies. Dr. Surin Pitsuwan suggested that Taiwan and ASEAN form an alliance or a chamber of commerce so that Taiwan would be able to successfully voice its ideas and benefit from bilateral trades.

The IEAT arranged three panel discussions forums to examine the topics of digital era, New Southbound Policy, and cross-strait trade and commerce ,where experts and scholars from home and abroad gathered together. For example, for the digital era panel, Professor Lu Xi-peng (a master analyst of Taiwan’s electronic business trends), Colin Puckett (a senior marketing manager and spokesperson of Amazon, the world’s largest electronic business leader), and Tang Feng (the youngest minister without portfolio who is promoting “open government”) were invited to give talks. Concerning the views of Southeast Asian countries on Taiwanese government’s New Southbound Policy and potential opportunities for Taiwan to collaborate with Southeast Asian countries, Surin Pitsuwan, Gregory Domingo (former Secretary of Trade and Industry of the Philippines), Vikrom Kromadit (chief executive officer of Amata Corporation PCL in Thailand), and John C.C.Deng Executive Yuan minister without portfolio) initiated discussions. Regarding cross-strait trade and commerce issues, Chiu Chui-cheng (Deputy Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council), Tien Hung-mao (Chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation), Syaru Shirley Lin( Professor from the Chinese University of Hong Kong who has been an expert of international and cross-strait relations for a long period of time), and Hsu Xu Sheng-hsiung (Chairman of the Chinese National Federation of Industries) provided valuable insights and explored cross-strait economic and trade directions from an objective perspective.

The forum drew more than 400 domestic and foreign experts from the field of international trades. By organizing the aforementioned forums where experts shared their knowledge, event participants were able to gain insights into the latest trends on new U.S. trade policies, new southbound markets, and the global digital economy. The information will serve as references to the Taiwanese government when implementing policies and help trade companies enter into international markets.

Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei’s 70th Anniversary Celebration Gala Dinner Warm Exchanges Between Guests, Exemplifying Their Efforts to Create a Promising Future for Taiwan’s Economy and Trades

The Importers and Exporters Association of Taipei (IEAT) hosted a gala dinner to celebrate its 70th anniversary where important business partners from home and abroad were invited to commemorate this historic moment. The IEAT looked forward to closer cooperation between related parties for a better future, setting a memorable milestone for Taiwan’s developments.

President Tsai Ing-wen attended the gala dinner banquet and indicated that imports and exports would always be a critical catalyst driving Taiwan’s economic growth.

Taiwan’s 70-year-long import and export history is synonymous with the history of Taiwan’s industrial development. In 2016, Taiwan’s total import and export reached US$510.8 billion, ranking 18th in the world. IEAT’s long-term provision of quality services to help import and export companies expand overseas markets was a major contributor of this phenomenon. President Tsai believed that the 70 years of experience accumulated by the IEAT would help Taiwanese businessmen gain more access to the global market.

In recognition of the outstanding performance of Taiwan’s importers and exporters, President Tsai presented nine “IEAT Senior Member Award” to appreciate contribution made by related companies and the IEAT for Taiwan’s economic and trade sectors over the past 70 years. In his speech, Mikio Numata, the representative of the Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association, Taipei Office, pointed out that the IEAT and members from the past to the present have worked tirelessly to create a better future. Numata also believed that IEAT would continue contributing to Taiwan’s import and export developments in the future.

At the gala dinner, various performances and celebration activities were carefully arranged to encourage event guests to engage in warm exchanges, which exemplified the close links between global resources, and the strong cooperation between strategic partners working together for Taiwan’s prosperous economic future.