British Columbia opens Taipei office to enhance ties

The Canadian province of British Columbia on Tuesday opened a trade office in Taipei to enhance its relations with Taiwan, its seventh-largest trading partner.

“Having a trade office in Taiwan will open doors to new opportunities for B.C. businesses,” British Columbia Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Brenda Bailey was quoted as saying in a statement.

“By expanding our trade relationships, and promoting B.C.’s innovative, sustainable products and services internationally, we are continuing our work to support businesses and the people who depend on them,” Bailey said.

The British Columbia Trade and Investment Representative Office is to support the province’s businesses by giving them better access to the Taiwanese market and promoting exports, the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei said in the statement.

“The opening of B.C.’s new Trade and Investment Representative Office in Taiwan is a testament to our Indo-Pacific Strategy launched in 2022,” the statement quoted Canadian Representative Jim Nickel as saying. “This demonstrates not only CanadaTaiwan’s fast-growing economic partnership, but also the B.C. Government’s determination to support more good jobs and opportunities for both B.C. and Taiwanese communities.”

The office is the second opened by a Canadian provincial government after Alberta did so in 1988.

In related news, the European External Action Service yesterday announced that Lutz Gullner has been nominated as the EU Head of Office to Taiwan.

“I am honoured to be nominated as the Head of Office of the EU in #Taiwan. Looking very much forward to my new role,” Gullner said on social media yesterday.

“Congratulations on the welldeserved appointment,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs replied.