Director-General of TECC Chennai explains his idea of ‘Design from Taiwan, Make in Tamil Nadu’

India and Taiwan have steadily expanded their engagement in recent years. How do you assess the current state of bilateral ties, particularly between Taiwan and South India?

Taiwan and India enjoy a strong and steadily growing partnership built on shared democratic values, economic complementarity, and mutual trust. South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, has become one of the most dynamic regions for Taiwan’s engagement. According to the statistics of our Ministry of Economic Affairs, bilateral trade between Taiwan and India has reached a record high year by year.

In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between Taiwan and India exceeded 10 billion US dollars for the first time, reaching 10.6 billion US dollars, and in 2025, it reached a new record of 12.5 billion US dollars. It has reached 8.6 billion US dollars from January to June (2026), an 43% growth over the same period in 2025. There should be a chance to set a new record this year. However, Taiwan’s trade between India and Taiwan accounts for only 1% of Taiwan’s total annual import and export trade, and there is still a lot of room for growth. As of June 2026, nearly 325 Taiwanese businessmen have invested in India, creating about 2,14,400 jobs.

Today, our cooperation extends well beyond trade. We are working together in semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, information technology, higher education, and talent development. More Taiwanese companies are investing in South India, while educational and cultural exchanges continue to grow.

Tamil Nadu’s industrial strength, skilled workforce, and the ecosystem make it an ideal partner for Taiwan. I believe the relationship between Taiwan and South India has entered a new golden phase—from cooperation to long-term partnership and ecosystem integration.

Are there any specific sectors you think offer great potential for deeper collaboration between Tamil Nadu and Taiwan in the coming years?

Absolutely! There are several sectors where Taiwan and Tamil Nadu can achieve win-win cooperation. First is the semiconductor, AI and electronics industry. Taiwan is a global leader in semiconductor and AI industry, while Tamil Nadu is rapidly emerging as an electronics and advanced manufacturing hub.

Second, electric vehicles and green technologies present potential opportunities. Taiwan has strong capabilities in EV components, batteries, precision machinery, and smart mobility solutions. Third, digital transformation, Industry 4.0, and smart advanced manufacturing will become increasingly important areas of cooperation. Ultimately, I believe our cooperation should focus not only on investment but also on innovation, talent cultivation, and joint research.

Are there scholarship opportunities and academic exchange programmes that may be of interest to students from Tamil Nadu?

Certainly! Taiwan offers a wide range of opportunities for students from Tamil Nadu. Over the past three years, we have provided six scholarships to Tamil Nadu students.

Taiwan Scholarship (Ministry of Education) for undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Recipients generally receive the following monthly stipend:

* Undergraduate students: NT$15,000 per month

* Master’s and Ph.D. students: NT$20,000 per month

* The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Taiwan Scholarship provides the following monthly living allowance:

* Pre-degree Mandarin Language Enrichment Program (LEP): NT$28,000 per month

* Undergraduate, Master’s, and Ph.D. degree programs: NT$33,000 per month 

In addition, MOFA scholarship recipients receive:

* One-way economy-class airfare to Taiwan at the beginning of the program and one-way return airfare upon successful completion of the scholarship.

* Possible tuition and miscellaneous fee reductions or waivers offered by the host university (these are determined by the university and are not guaranteed by MOFA). 

* The MOFA Taiwan Scholarship is intended to encourage outstanding international students to pursue higher education in Taiwan while strengthening friendship and bilateral relations between Taiwan and partner countries. 

* Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) for students who wish to study Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan.

* Scholarships offered by Taiwanese universities, many of which provide tuition waivers and monthly stipends.

* Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP), which offers international students hands-on research, laboratory experience, and short-term internships at Taiwanese universities and research institutions.

* International Internship Pilot Program (IIPP), which connects talented international students with internship opportunities in Taiwan’s leading industries, particularly in science, technology, engineering, and advanced manufacturing.

* Research fellowships, academic exchanges, and joint university programs that promote international collaboration.

These programmes may provide tuition support, monthly living allowances, research funding, internship opportunities, or a combination of these benefits, depending on the specific program. Taiwan welcomes talented students from India, and we hope more young people from South India will choose Taiwan as a destination for higher education, research, innovation, and career development.

Do you see any specific trend in the tourism sector? How have been the figures of tourists from South India visiting Taiwan?

Yes! We have seen encouraging growth in tourism from India, including South India. More Indian travellers are discovering Taiwan as a destination that offers beautiful natural scenery, vibrant cities, rich cultural heritage, delicious cuisine, excellent public transportation, and a safe travel environment.

An increasing number of visitors are also travelling for education, business, exhibitions, medical services, and incentive travel, reflecting the growing diversity of Taiwan-South India exchanges. In 2022, a total of 1,888 visas were issued  to applicants from South India to travel to Taiwan for study or work or business purposes. In 2023, it rose to 4,685 and then to 5,633 in 2024. Last year, it went up further and was 6,569 and till now during 2026, the figures have reached 3,449.

We hope to welcome even more visitors from Tamil Nadu and across South India in the coming years by promoting Taiwan’s unique tourism experiences and strengthening tourism cooperation with local travel partners.

Are there specific sectors in Tamil Nadu in which businessmen from Taiwan may be interested in?

Yes! Taiwanese companies see significant opportunities in Tamil Nadu. Priority sectors include electronics manufacturing, footwear, textiles , precision machinery , information and communication technology, logistics. Tamil Nadu has developed one of India’s mature manufacturing ecosystems, supported by the infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a proactive industrial policy.

Taiwanese enterprises are particularly interested in building long-term partnerships with local industries, participating in supply chain development, and contributing to South India’s manufacturing growth. We also encourage collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises, as SMEs are the backbone of both Taiwan’s and Tamil Nadu’s economies.

Are there opportunities for collaboration between Taiwanese institutions and startups, universities, or industries in Tamil Nadu in technology and innovation?

Definitely! Innovation thrives when universities, research institutions, startups, and industries work together. Taiwan has developed a vibrant innovation ecosystem supported by world-class universities, science parks, research institutes, and technology companies. We encourage joint research projects, faculty exchanges, startup collaboration, incubation programmes, innovation cooperation, technology transfer, and industrial internships.

A good example is the recent collaboration between National Formosa University (NFU) in Taiwan, Chennai Institute of Technology (CIT), and AGEM Technology from Taiwan, which launched the first pilot project in South India on semiconductor research and will establish the Industry-Academia Office on September 21 on talent development. This initiative demonstrates the strong potential for academia–industry partnerships between Taiwan and Tamil Nadu in strategic technology sectors. Our goal is to help build long-term innovation partnerships that benefit both Taiwan and South India.

Have you made any representation to the Tamil Nadu government recently?

On July 17, 2026, I attended a seminar hosted by Tamil Nadu Guidance ‘Global Partnerships for Tamil Nadu’s US$1.5 Trillion Economy Vision’ which was also attended by Minister of Industries S. Keerthana. In my remarks, I offered three investment suggestions to the Tamil Nadu government: establishing an efficient single window for implementation; constructing an industrial technology park specifically for Taiwanese businesses with stable water and electricity supply and comprehensive infrastructure; and simplifying administrative procedures.

What are your priorities for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Chennai over the next few years?

As the de facto Taiwan Consulate, our mission is to serve as a bridge between Taiwan and South India. My core mission is to bring IT (India and Taiwan) partnership stronger and stronger, even to infinity. My vision for Tamil Nadu for the next decade is to “Design from Taiwan, Make in Tamil Nadu”. Over the next few years, we will continue to strengthen cooperation in five key areas.

First, expanding economic and investment partnerships. Second, promoting education, talent development, and youth exchanges. Third, encouraging collaboration in science, technology, innovation, and industrial development. Fourth, deepening cultural understanding and people-to-people connections. Finally, continuously supporting Taiwanese businesses while facilitating new partnerships with local governments, universities, research institutions, and industries.

At TECC in Chennai, we believe that sustainable partnerships are built on trust, friendship, and shared prosperity. We are committed to working closely with our partners across South India to create more opportunities and write the next chapter of Taiwan–South India cooperation together. And I look forward to meeting with your Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay soon along with a delegation of some prominent members of Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in Chennai.