SEOUL, South Korea — Gov. Phil Murphy and the delegation of business and academic leaders on the 2023 New Jersey East Asia Economic Mission will arrive in Taiwan late Thursday night (early Thursday morning in New Jersey) for the third leg of the trip, Choose New Jersey announced.
The trip to Taiwan was known by those in the delegation but was not previously announced due to geopolitical sensitivity and security concerns. It follows stops in Japan and South Korea. The governor and the delegates are expected to land in Taiwan by the end of day Thursday (by noon in New Jersey).
New Jersey has the fourth-largest population of Taiwanese Americans in the U.S. — and the fourth-highest population of Asian Americans, nearly 1 million.
Administration officials said the visit aims to deepen trade, investment and academic ties between New Jersey and Taiwan — an economic relationship that already accounts for more than $4 billion in revenue every year.
Murphy’s activities and schedule will include meetings with companies and executives, trade organizations, government officials, higher education leaders, startup incubators and other key commercial and economic partners. Key industry sectors of focus will include infrastructure, clean energy, financial services, life sciences, technology, logistics, manufacturing and food & beverage.
“Taiwan has long been one of New Jersey’s most vital economic, academic and cultural partners,” Muphy said in a release. “New Jersey is a global leader in life sciences, fintech and infrastructure, which are key areas of investments for East Asia.
“By deepening our economic and cultural ties, we can grow our economies and generate good-paying jobs for families on both sides of the Pacific. I am proud to highlight New Jersey as the best place for Taiwanese innovators and entrepreneurs to expand, grow and reach new consumers.”
Wes Mathews, the CEO of Choose New Jersey, which sponsored and fully funded the trip, said Taiwan is a key economic partner of the state.
“Our trade and investment relationship with Taiwan is strong and dynamic, and we see the New Jersey-Taiwan relationship as a vital pillar of our international economic agenda,” he said. “We look forward to reaffirming that relationship on this mission.”
Mathews said a delegation from Choose visited Taiwan in the summer.
“We visited Taiwan in mid-August and experienced firsthand the vibrancy of the culture, private and public sectors and institutions of higher education,” he said. “We look forward to underscoring our longstanding partnerships as well as forging new relationships that will grow and evolve our respective economies and societies.”
Taiwan will be the final stop of the East Asia Economic Mission. The group exceeded 60 people at the beginning. It will be approximately 45 for the Taiwan leg of the trip.
The group returns to New Jersey on Sunday.
