New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will lead a business and trade mission to Taiwan on Sunday to participate in U.S. Business Day and meet with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua and manufacturing companies interested in locating to the state.
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Governor Lujan Grisham will speak on September 19 at U.S. Business Day in Taipei, the premier business and economic development event in Taiwan sponsored by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.
The delegation will also make presentations on New Mexico’s business climate, workforce, and logistical advantages of its international border zone at a U.S. Business Day investment forum with companies interested in expanding operations to the United States.
The governor plans to meet with several Taiwanese public officials and business owners one-on-one.
Governor Lujan Grisham has identified global trade as a target industry in New Mexico to boost economic diversification and create more job opportunities along the state’s international border with Mexico.
In 2022, the State of New Mexico and the Taiwan Ministry of Economic Affairs signed an MOU to promote closer trade relations between the parties.
“New Mexico has the ideal economic climate to attract global businesses, including in Asia,†said the Governor. “I see great potential to strengthen the partnerships we have already established in Taiwan, bringing continued stability and economic opportunity to all our citizens.â€
Since 2019, the state Economic Development Department has opened a foreign trade office in Taipei and several Asian companies have chosen to expand to New Mexico for its logistical proximity to North American customers and excellent transportation infrastructure, providing for a more robust and resilient supply chain.
In August, Singapore-based Maxeon Technologies announced it would locate the only solar panel manufacturing plant in the United States in Albuquerque. Taiwan-based Admiral Cable and label-printing company Cymmetrik have expanded to Santa Teresa in the last several years.
The Governor pledged $30 million in state money to improve infrastructure along the New Mexico side of the international border, and she is advocating for additional funding from the federal government for improvements at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, where commercial crossings continue to increase.
The state has also committed to paying for a new border highway extension to cut commute times for those working in Santa Teresa.
The Governor will travel with an official delegation which includes Chief of Staff Daniel Schlegel, Director of Communications Maddy Hayden, Senior Advisor for Global Trade & Infrastructure Joseph De La Rosa, former Economic Development Department Secretary Alicia J. Keyes, New Mexico Partnership President Melinda Allen, and President and CEO of the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance Davin Lopez. Ethan Chen, the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s foreign trade representative in Taipei, will assist the delegation. ■