BOISE, Idaho — Governor Brad Little returned recently from a nine-day trade mission to Taiwan and Hong Kong. The trip was his first official trade mission as Idaho’s 33rd Governor.
Taiwan is Idaho’s second largest export destination, and companies there bought more than $675 million in Idaho products in 2018. Hong Kong is Idaho’s ninth export market overall.
“Our meetings with overseas businesspeople and government officials helped strengthen Idaho’s decades-old partnership and friendship with Taiwan and opened doors for new trade and investment opportunities,” Governor Little said.
Quotes from trade mission participants:
“The trip to Taiwan with the Governor and staff was a great marketing experience for our small business. The staff were so helpful in setting up meaningful meetings with the key personnel from potential customers. We are preparing a bid right now for one of our most promising contacts of the trip. Governor Little was very adept in obtaining the respect and attention of companies that we would like to do business with. In agriculture, farmers are always interested in trying new things. The key to success is to repeat the good things and not the failures. This trade mission is something I will be doing again.” - Jeremiah Clark, American Mills
“It was my honor and privilege to assist in this trade mission on behalf of the Idaho Wheat Commission, to help ensure continued exports for Idaho producers. The Taiwanese flour millers that we met with are great folks and loyal, long-term customers of high-quality Idaho wheat. It was a genuine pleasure getting to know them better and continuing to strengthen our relationships into the future. Governor and First Lady Little struck me as good, down-to-earth folks who are working hard for Idaho farmers, ranchers and businesses. It was a tremendous pleasure working with them.” - Garrett Egland, Idaho Wheat Commission
“Governor Little was a tireless promoter of Idaho beef products in two amazingly strong markets for Agri Beef. He may be the best salesman that we ever had, and we greatly appreciate his efforts on this mission!” -Jay Theiler, Agri Beef
Trip Highlights
Taiwan: Governor Little and the Idaho delegation met with Mayfull Foods, a huge customer of Idaho products. Governor Little strengthened relationships for existing suppliers and made introductions for new suppliers. In a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, Governor Little encouraged Taiwan to open the market to beef from cattle over 30 months of age, a change that would enable Idaho producers to sell more product. Governor Little also met with Taiwan Hsin Lin (THL), a major importer of food and consumer products. THL is a significant distribution network to many customers, including Costco Taiwan and Costco China as well as other retail and food services. Also in Taiwan, Idaho company SGW DesignWorks signed an MOU with Taiwan companies, establishing a long-term relationship regarding the promotion and leverage of technologies and resources in both countries. Idaho company SMHeuristics signed an MOU with Taiwan companies, establishing a framework to conduct collaborative projects related to automation intelligence and robotics technologies and industries as well as medical devices, instruments, and services industries.
Hong Kong: Governor Little and the Idaho delegation participated in a promotion event for beef cooking at AEON department stores, a major retailer of U.S. Beef and Snake River Farms. Governor Little opened access for Idaho companies to senior leadership at Dah Chong Hong Ltd, a large trading company with a food division. He promoted quinoa, cheese, and onion products sold by Idaho companies and associations. The Governor and Idaho delegation also had productive meetings with multiple potential partners for international digital networking.
The full list of Idaho businesses and organizations that joined Governor Little and the Idaho departments of Commerce and Agriculture in Taiwan and Hong Kong includes:
- Agri Beef Co.
- Agropur
- American Mills
- Butte Fence Inc.
- Cold Chain, LLC
- Idaho Wheat Commission
- Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee
- Marcus Tam Real Estate Development & Investment LLC
- PKG, Inc.
- Recall InfoLink, Inc.
- SMHeuristics
- SGW Designworks
- Syringa Networks, LLC
- University of Idaho College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
