Last month, I had the opportunity to travel with one of my Senate colleagues in the Missouri Legislature and join a multi-state delegation to visit the Republic of China (Taiwan). In addition to learning about the country itself, I had the chance to see many of the correlations between this distant Asian country and our own Missouri communities.

I was invited to Taiwan on behalf of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City.  We had many different presentations, which included the economic climate surrounding the country’s agricultural industry and the cultural history of its vast educational institutions.

According to the U.S. Taiwan Connect, Missouri sent $113 million worth of exports to Taiwan, a 63 percent growth since 2009. Bilateral trade between
Taiwan and the U.S. has continued to grow, reaching $67 billion in 2011. While agriculture remains one of Missouri’s biggest industries, Taiwan happens to be the sixth largest importer of United States agricultural goods. As a matter of fact, Missouri exported more than $30 million worth of agricultural goods to Taiwan in 2012, according to the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA), with $21.2 million in soybeans, $2.1 million in corn, $1.1 million in animal feed, and $1 million in starch residues.

The American State Offices Association (ASOA) serves as the marketing office for Missouri products in Taiwan and other Pacific Rim countries. In that organization, Missouri is served by a dedicated man, Hank Ma, who has worked for more than 20 years for Missouri with MDA on a daily basis to ensure solid trade relations and promote Missouri products. There are only 12 other states that enjoy this type of partnership with the ASOA. The exports we send to Taiwan are often the product of our Missouri farms and the hard-working farmers and ranchers who work on them.

Also while in Taiwan, I had the chance to discuss education and its impact between our two countries. Currently, Missouri is home to 321 visiting Taiwanese college students representing both public and private higher education.  It is in Missouri’s best interests to continue to provide top-notch education to these international students. Providing educational opportunities for international students in our home state shows good will and allows a better understanding of these students half-a-world away, their culture, and the countries in which they live.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.

Senator David Pearce in the lobby of the Foundation for Democracy building in Taipei, Taiwan. The Foundation for Democracy hosted the multi-state legislative delegation.