A Taiwanese buying delegation signed a letter of intent to buy corn and soybeans from the US state of Indiana on Saturday as part of a mission aimed at purchasing US$3.5 billion in agricultural commodities from the US over the next two years.
The delegation — headed by Paul Sun (孫明賢), chairman of the World Vegetable Center and a former chairman of the Council of Agriculture — was warmly welcomed by officials of the state, which maintains sisterhood ties with Taiwan.
The delegation’s visit was covered by local media, including the Indianapolis Star, the daily with the largest circulation in the state, the Chicago Tribune and local TV and radio stations.
LETTER OF INTENT
Sun signed a letter of intent for Taiwan’s forthcoming purchases of corn and soybeans from Indiana at a ceremony hosted by Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman on Friday.
Looking on were elected representatives from the state’s General Assembly and officials from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago.
Speaking at the occasion, Skillman said Indiana has maintained sisterhood ties with Taiwan for more than 30 years and that the state very much cherishes the friendship.
Senator Richard Lugar from Indiana issued a statement to offer his appreciation to Taiwan for its commitment to continued expansion of trade relations between Taiwan and the US state.
LARGE MARKET
Sun said that Taiwan is currently the seventh-largest market for US agricultural exports while the US is Taiwan’s largest supplier of agricultural products.
“The close bilateral ties will become even closer with Taiwan’s fresh purchases of US agricultural products totaling US$3.5 billion over the next two years,” Sun said.
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Skillman have paid visits to Taiwan in 2005 and 2006, respectively, to boost bilateral trade ties.
OTHER STATES
The purchasing delegation is scheduled to leave Indiana for Illinois today to continue its US visit, which will also take it to Iowa and Missouri.
Sun’s group is one part of a 22-member delegation that arrived in Washington, DC, last Wednesday to seal deals for the purchase of agricultural commodities.
The other group from the purchasing delegation is visiting Kansas, North Dakota, Montana and California.
Prior to splitting into two groups to visit the US agricultural heartland, the members of the group signed three documents at a ceremony on Capitol Hill on Thursday with their US counterparts.
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