Taiwan - Alberta Relations

This map is a generalized illustration only and is not intended to be used for reference purposes. The representation of political boundaries does not necessarily reflect the position of the Government of Alberta on international issues of recognition, sovereignty or jurisdiction. PROFILE CANADA’S “ONE CHINA” POLICY RELATIONSHIP OVERVIEW

Capital: Taipei . Canada does not have formal diplomatic . Alberta has maintained a presence in Taipei relations with Taiwan. With the support of since 1988. The Alberta Office is co-located Population: 23.2 million (2011) the Canadian government, the Canadian with the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei. Chamber of Commerce opened the Language: Mandarin, Taiwanese and Hakka th Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT) in . Taiwan ranks as Alberta’s 10 largest export Government: Representative Democracy 1986 to facilitate and increase two-way trade, market. investment as well as academic and cultural President: President MA Ying-jeou . In November 2010, Canada granted Taiwan links. Additionally, the CTOT provides the [Kuomintang] (since May 2008) a tourist visa waiver. Taiwanese visitors to same support services as other Canadian Canada no longer require visitor visas and Head of Government: Premier Sean Chen missions abroad. (since February 2012) this development will reduce bureaucracy for . Taiwan does not have a diplomatic or travelers and potentially make Canada more Currency: $1 CAD = 29.65 Taiwanese Dollar consular mission accredited to Canada. attractive to visitors. (2012 average) Their private-sector offices are staffed from TRADE AND INVESTMENT GDP: US$ 466.8 billion (2011) several departments and agencies in Taiwan to promote trade and culture under the . From 2007-2011, Alberta’s exports to Taiwan GDP (PPP): US$ 954.8 billion (2011) auspices of the Taipei Economic and Cultural averaged $187 million per year and were Offices (TECO) in Ottawa, Toronto and GDP Per Capita (PPP): US$ 41,385 (2011) primarily consisted of hides, skins, woodpulp, Vancouver, and the Far East Trade Service plastics, nickel, cobalt, meat, and canola oil. GDP Growth Rate: 3.8 percent (2007-2011 Inc. (FETS) in Montreal. average) . From 2007-2011, Alberta’s direct imports DID YOU KNOW? from Taiwan averaged $178 million per year Inflation: 1.4 percent (2007-2011 average) and included electrical machinery, iron and . Canada established its first presence in steel products, machinery, vehicles, and Key Industry Sectors: electronics, Taiwan in 1986. communications and information technology plastics. This figure does not include goods products, petroleum refining, armaments, . Taiwanese President MA in May 2011 sold in Alberta after first being delivered to chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, indicated the goal for biotechnology to distribution hubs in other provinces. cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, and pharmaceuticals. become one of Taiwan’s leading high- technology industries – to be "the star Sources: industry of the 21st century." Bank of Canada, Economist Intelligence Unit

December 2012 | Input provided by Alberta Ministries of: Agriculture and Rural Development, Education, Energy, Enterprise and Advanced Education

AGRICULTURE  The University of Calgary Haskayne School COMMUNITY of Business and National Chengchi . In 2011, Alberta’s agri-food exports to Taiwan University. . There are roughly 137,000 Albertans of totaled $50 million, consisting mostly of raw Chinese descent, including approximately 650 hides and skins ($21.2 million), beef ($5.37  Five students in the Chinese program at U Albertans who have identified themselves as million), and pork ($4.57 million). of C have successfully become the being of Taiwanese origin. recipients of the 2012 Taiwan Huayu . Alberta accounted for 28 percent of Canada’s Enrichment Scholarship, which is sponsored REPRESENTATION total agri-food exports to Taiwan, the highest by the Ministry of Education in Taiwan. among Canadian provinces and territories. . The Executive Director of the Canadian Trade EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES Office in Taipei is Mr. Scott Fraser. . Taiwan is currently Alberta’s sixth largest market for beef exports. Exports have . Alberta focuses on attracting Taiwanese . The Director General of the Taipei Economic benefitted from Taiwan’s decision in 2007 to investment/partnership in sectors such as agri- and Cultural Office in Vancouver is Mr. permit Alberta market access for boneless food (with links to health, diet or the Michael TSENG. beef derived from cattle under thirty months of environment, such as functional and . Alberta’s representative in the Canadian Trade age. processed products), advanced technology Office in Taipei is Ms. Li-an CHEN. industries (including nanotechnology, life . As a result of the increasing demand for pork science technologies, telecommunications, in Asia and the devastating effects of foot and environmental products and services and high- mouth disease on domestic stocks in the tech materials), pharmaceutical products, 1990s, Taiwan has invested heavily in offshore petrochemicals and oil sands production. swine. . Companies in Taiwan are dedicating EDUCATION resources to develop applications and technologies in hopes of making Taiwan one . A number of Alberta post-secondary of the key centres of the computing industry. institutions have partnerships with Taiwanese institutions: . Taiwan has made large investments in nanotechnology research in hopes of  The University of Alberta and National becoming a leader in this industry. Chiao Tung University. . Increased urbanization and globalization of the  Olds College and National Pingtung Taiwanese market has created opportunities University of Science and Technology. for “western style” supermarket chains, as well  The University of Calgary (U of C) as imported processed and packaged food Haskayne School of Business and National products. Chengchi University as well as National Sun Yet Sen University.

 The University of Lethbridge and National Sun Yat-sen University.

For more information, contact: Alberta International and Intergovernmental Relations Phone: 780-427-6543 Fax: 780-427-0699 albertacanada.com international.alberta.ca