Taiwan to visit UK, Spain to learn about commerce

In order to help Taiwan companies better understand the economic and trade environment abroad, the non-governmental Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) will organize a delegation to attend two commerce meetings in the United Kingdom and Spain next week, Tootoo.com learned from a PR.

From June 14-22, the 50-member business delegation led by Chairman of the Taiwan Cement Group Leslie Koo, will take part in the 10th Joint Meeting of the Taiwan Britain Business Council (TBBC) in Edinburgh, Scotland and the 17th Assembly Meeting of the Taiwan-Spain Economic Commerce Cooperation Committee in Spain, the press release stated.

“The 10th Joint Meeting of the TBBC — the most important platform for bilateral economic and trade affairs between Taiwan and the UK — will further improve mutual exchanges and serve as an great opportunity for both sides to seek business cooperation,” the CIECA added.

During the meeting in Edinburgh, representatives from Taiwan and the UK will discuss a number of important topics, including information and communication, infrastructure and renewable energy, and financial and professional services, in an effort to substantially strengthen bilateral cooperation and achieve the goal of mutual benefit, according to the press release.

Koo, who has been named by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his work to promote bilateral trade and investment between the U.K. and Taiwan, will be given the medal by Michael Reilly, director of the British Trade and Cultural Office (BTCO), at a banquet at Edinburgh Castle hosted by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh June 16.

The co-chair of the TBBC said he was totally overwhelmed by the OBE decoration.

“I’m truly honored and flattered to be awarded an OBE,” said Koo. “I always try to serve my role as a responsible Taiwanese investor in the UK, a business advocate to promote Taiwanese investment in the UK, and a facilitator for better understanding and cooperation between the business communities of Taiwan and Britain.”

The BTCO said that under Koo’s leadership, the TBBC has gone from strength to strength, bringing together senior business representatives from Taiwan and the UK, identifying business opportunities in both markets and working together in third countries.

“Leslie’s award is tremendous news. It is well-deserved recognition not only for the superb job he has done and continues to do for TBBC, but also for the contribution TBBC makes to UK-Taiwan business cooperation and for the direct and significant contribution he has made to the UK over the years,” said Reilly.

The TBBC was established in 1999 with the aim of promoting bilateral trade and investment ties between the UK and Taiwan by encouraging closer links between the two markets, by disseminating relevant market information and by cooperating to remove impediments to market access.

Supervised by the U.K. Trade and Investment Bureau and Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade, the council meets once a year, alternatively in the UK and Taiwan, to bring together business representatives from both sides.