TAITRA, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, Taiwan’s foremost trade promotion organization, has opened an office in Dallas, its fifth U.S. office.

The move comes on the heels of a surge in bilateral trade between Taiwan and the United States in 2022. The other offices are New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

The opening was marked with a celebratory grand opening event Monday at the Westin Galleria near TAITRA’s new Dallas office at 5005 Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway.

“The southern United States, particularly Texas, is rapidly evolving into a significant manufacturing hub. This transformation has been spurred not only by business-friendly policies, but also by the abundance of energy, a strong workforce, and a stable environment for growth,” TAITRA Chairman James Huang said in a statement. “In 2022, Taiwanese companies were responsible for two of the top 10 largest investments in the U.S., one of which was made right here in Texas. Currently, Taiwan ranks as the ninth largest import source for Texas. The opening of our fifth trade center in Dallas comes at a most opportune time. I’m fully confident our Dallas-based team will play an important bridge role and help set the stage for enhanced trade relations between Taiwan and the United States.”

More than 200 guests including government officials, business leaders, and community leaders attended the commemoration. Dignitaries included:

• TAITRA Chairman James Huang
• Former Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

• Congressman Pete Sessions

• Congressman Lance Gooden
• Congressman Keith Self
• Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett
• Texas State Rep. Angie Chen Button

A video screened at the event celebrated the first integrated circuit invented by Texas Instruments, and Taiwan’s role in further developing it.

Today, Taiwan is the world’s biggest source of integrated circuits, and TAITRA said its goal is to continue on the path of innovation and product improvement by serving as an intelligent integrator in areas like EVs, healthcare, and machinery.

Dallas is also Taipei’s sister city and is home to a growing Taiwanese American community and to dozens of Fortune 500 companies.

Taiwan Trade Center’s Dallas office is headed by Executive Director Simon Lai.

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