Governor Eric J. Holcomb landed in Taipei on Sunday morning to kick off an economic development trip to Taiwan and the Republic of Korea. The trip will include visits with Taiwanese and South Korean government officials, business leaders and academic institutions to further strengthen Indiana’s economic, academic and cultural ties with Taiwan and South Korea.
“I couldn’t be more energetic to spend this week building new relationships, strengthening long-standing ones, and strengthening key industry partnerships with Taiwan and South Korea,” Governor Holcomb said. “This week marks my second trip to South Korea as governor, and I am also proud to be the first U.S. governor to visit Taiwan since before the COVID-19 pandemic. I am committed to building an economy of the future with these global partners who are helping propel Indiana forward by building the businesses of tomorrow, today.
The trip to Taiwan follows two recent announcements from the semiconductor industry in Indiana, including Taiwan-based MediaTek, as well as the recent signing of the federal CHIPS law, emphasizing the strengthening Indiana’s microelectronics technology ecosystem. The delegation will focus on strengthening Indiana’s economic and academic partnerships and strengthening the state’s commitment to innovation, as well as a commitment to work together to build the economy of the future at the international scale.
“The unprecedented economic progress Indiana has achieved this year doesn’t happen without like-minded partners here and around the world,” said Indiana Commerce Secretary Brad Chambers. “A shared commitment to innovation and collaboration is essential to our continued success, and I’m excited to spend the week building on that collaboration with our friends in Taiwan and South Korea.”
The delegation led by Governor Holcomb, which includes Sec. Staff from Chambers and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Dean of Purdue University’s College of Engineering Mark Lundstrom and Chief of Staff Alyssa Wilcox, will travel to Taiwan for two days, during which they will meet with leaders business, university leaders and government officials. The group will then travel to Seoul for two days, before returning to Indianapolis on Saturday, August 27. Lundstrom will return to Indiana after leaving Taipei, and Purdue University president-elect Mung Chiang will join the delegation in Seoul following the first days of the new academic year on the Purdue campus.
On August 22-23 in Taiwan, Governor Holcomb and the delegation will meet with Taiwanese government officials and business leaders. On August 25-26 in South Korea, they will meet with current and potential business representatives and U.S. government leaders, and Governor Holcomb will highlight Indiana’s commitment to innovation to members of the House of American trade.
“Purdue University is delighted to be invited to be part of the Indiana State delegation led by Governor Holcomb and Secretary Chambers,” said Dr. Chiang. “Boilermakers have long-standing academic partnerships with institutions in Taiwan and South Korea, and we look forward to attracting tech companies and jobs to the hard tech corridor in Hoosier State.”
Indiana is home to more than 1,050 foreign business establishments, representing more than 40 countries and territories, including 10 from Taiwan and 12 from South Korea. In 2021, 47 foreign companies have committed to establishing or expanding in Indiana. Together, these companies plan to invest $3.55 billion in Indiana, creating jobs with an average wage of $29.57 per hour and representing 14% of total new jobs hired in 2021.
Governor Holcomb will be the first U.S. governor to visit Taiwan since 2019 and the first Indiana governor to visit Taiwan in 17 years. This is Governor Holcomb’s 12th international economic development trip as governor. The cost of the trip is paid for by private donations to the Indiana Economic Development Foundation.
