MDA’s Taiwan office builds opportunities for Minnesota farmers
For decades, U.S. agricultural export organizations have worked to increase opportunities for American farm products in Taiwan. In 2022, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) decided to supplement those efforts by hiring its own in-market trade representative.
Given the importance of Taiwan to Minnesota corn farmers, the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council voted to invest checkoff funds in MDA’s Taiwan office.
MDA’s Taiwan office is overseen by the department’s international trade supervisor, Christina Connelly. Recently, Connelly sat down with Minnesota Corn to discuss the Taiwanese market and how MDA is developing market opportunities internationally for Minnesota farmers.
What’s the overall goal of MDA’s trade office? How does the work in Taiwan fit into that?
Our purpose is threefold: To expand into new markets, maintain existing markets, and attract foreign direct investment (i.e., businesses in the food and ag space that might want to relocate here).
Our decision to invest in Taiwan was a strategic one based, in large part, on the interest of our state’s commodity organizations. Taiwan has really grown as an export destination, and they have such a relationship-based economy. They don’t do transactions via emails or phone calls. Often, they don’t transact anything in the first couple of meetings. It really means a lot to show up in that market and continue to pound the pavement. It’s a show of our understanding of that culture to continue to show up and express our gratitude for the relationship.
How does the Taiwan office work?
Our representative in Taiwan is Irene Tsai of AIM Development. She’s always waiving the Minnesota flag at events and meetings. Each year, she facilitates two flagship events on our behalf—one in Taiwan and one in Minnesota. Last year, she helped bring a Taiwanese ethanol delegation to Minnesota following the group’s attendance at the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council’s Global Ethanol Summit in Washington, D.C.
Taiwan is interested in potentially establishing their own ethanol industry. There are two ways they could go about it—one could be importing ethanol and the other would be building their own infrastructure—in which case, they still would need to import corn. It would be good for Minnesota no matter what.
What is the message you would want to send to Minnesota corn farmers about this work?
We’re so grateful for the relationship and continued support because we couldn’t have this office without the support of commodity organizations.
I think we continue to see Taiwan as an important market. It’s not our largest market, but it is a steady one—a reliable market that will continue to be a significant export destination as long as we are investing in the relationship. I think it means something for Minnesota to say we’re investing in this particular market out of all the options in the world. The Taiwanese importers see it that way.
