TAIPEI: Governor Steve Bullock is leading a delegation of Montanans overseas on a trade mission to the Pacific Rim for the second time in as many years.
Bullock and 16 other people are visiting Taiwan and South Korea with the delegation including folks from the agriculture and high-tech industries, as well as education.
Bullock says a similar visit last year to China has helped connect Montana and Chinese businesses.
“The trade mission that we begin tomorrow as we travel to South Korea and to Taiwan will build on the successes of last year’s mission and ultimately will open new doors for Montana businesses,” Bullock said.
“There was a time when the largest part of our economic activity was domestic. But our future really depends on our ability to be globally competitive,” said Errol Rice of the Montana Stockgrowers Association.
The Montana trade delegation arrived in Taiwan on Sunday after a nearly three-hour delay at the San Francisco airport. They finally landed in Taipei at about 10 p.m. on Sunday.
Business delegates spent part of their morning Monday at a business briefing before getting a tour of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial.
They then met up with the executive delegation led by Governor Bullock for a lunch hosted by the Taiwanese Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Following some business meetings in the afternoon, they toured Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest buildings, where one delegate expressed optimism about trade prospects.
“The governor’s staff has set up some really great meetings for our company and I think we have some really great business opportunities here in Taiwan,” Adam Stern said.
“The folks we met at the foreign ministry were outstanding, it was a lot of fun and meeting the foreign minister was a very exciting experience.”
It’s another busy day for the delegation on Tuesday as they visit the National Palace Museum and hear from Taiwanese President Ma.
