Grimes returns from Taiwan trade mission, releases report

Taiwan and Kentucky have been sister states since 1982

FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 15, 2017) — Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes this week returned from an international trade mission to Taiwan with a delegation from the U.S. She released a report with information about the status of the sister-states’ economic relationship.

“This mission to Taiwan affirmed for me that even though the Kentucky-Taiwan economic relationship is strong, there are more ways to enhance our bond for mutually beneficial economic growth,” said Grimes, Kentucky’s chief business official.

Grimes was one of four secretaries of state selected to participate in the trip coordinated and funded by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO). She made a similar visit in 2013, making the trip her second in office.

Grimes met with several businesses with Kentucky ties in Taiwan, including Sunspring America, Inc., and Taihu Brewing. She also met with officials from Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade, Council of Agriculture, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“This trip reinforced for me the need for a Kentucky trade office in Taiwan, which would help facilitate more business relationships that are mutually beneficial to the Commonwealth and Taiwan,” said Grimes. “It’s the key to growing and reinforcing our already strong trading partnership.”

Taiwan and Kentucky have been sister states since 1982 in a partnership formed by former Gov. John Y. Brown, Jr.