Taiwan To Open Economic & Culture Centre in Mumbai To Strengthen Relations

Taiwan has taken a significant step towards expanding its presence in India. On Wednesday, July 5, it announced the opening of its third representative office, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre (TECC), in Mumbai. The decision to establish the TECC in Mumbai comes after years of efforts to strengthen ties between Taiwan and India in various domains. It includes economics, trade, technology, and supply chains.

Discussions for setting up the TECC in Mumbai have been ongoing since the establishment of the TECC in Chennai back in 2012. The Mumbai office will provide essential services such as visa assistance, document authentication, and emergency support to Taiwanese nationals, businesspeople, and tourists in western India. It will facilitate smoother interactions and cooperation between the two countries.

We’re excited to announce plans to establish the Taipei Economic & Cultural Center (TECC) in #Mumbai. The forthcoming #Taiwan🇹🇼 office in #India’s🇮🇳 largest city is a milestone in bilateral relations expected to spur further cooperation & exchanges. pic.twitter.com/z8a463Hgla

— 外交部 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan) 🇹🇼 (@MOFA_Taiwan) July 5, 2023

The primary objective of the TECC in Mumbai is to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment opportunities between Taiwan and India. Although formal diplomatic relations do not exist between the two nations, they have made significant strides in building relations since 1995. That year marked a turning point when both countries established unofficial representative offices, with Taiwan opening the TECC in New Delhi and India establishing the "India Taipei Association" in Taipei.

Republic of China (Taiwan) 🇹🇼to establish Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Mumbai 🇮🇳to further advance substantive ties with India 🌎https://t.co/Q7hxKhaws3 pic.twitter.com/k58ZaBU5HK

— Taiwan in India (@TWIndia2) July 5, 2023

The establishment of the TECC in Chennai played a crucial role in encouraging Taiwanese investment in southern India. Over the years, the geopolitical situation and the rearrangement of international and local value chains have further fueled strategic interest in expanding India-Taiwan relations. This has created a critical mass, pushing both nations to strengthen their economic and cultural ties.

It is worth noting that the opening of the TECC in Mumbai is not directly linked to the deterioration of India-China ties. Previous instances of representative office openings in 1995 and 2012 did not significantly impact India-China relations. The Indian government also clarified to China that these offices were unofficial and that there would be no government-to-government interaction.