TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, Cynthia Kiang (江文若), convened with her Swedish counterpart, Håkan Jevrell, at the high-level "2025 Taiwan-Sweden Trade Talk" Tuesday (June 3) to advance bilateral economic cooperation. The senior officials engaged in substantive discussions focused on geothermal energy development and technological innovation initiatives, part of a broader effort to deepen economic partnerships between the democratic island nation and the Nordic country.
During her visit to Sweden, Deputy Minister Kiang toured facilities of telecommunications giant Ericsson, a global leader in 5G technology, and met with executives at SHL Medical, a prominent biotechnology firm specializing in drug delivery systems. Taiwan's International Trade Administration (國際貿易署), the government agency overseeing foreign trade policy, noted that the delegation engaged in comprehensive discussions covering intellectual property protection frameworks, artificial intelligence applications, and emerging technology integration. Taiwanese officials also extended invitations to Swedish startup companies to consider Taiwan as a strategic base for their Asian market expansion efforts.
Representatives highlighted Taiwan's recent achievement in securing hosting rights for the prestigious Asia Pacific Circular Economy Roundtable & Hotspot (亞洲暨大洋洲循環經濟熱點), a regional forum focused on sustainable economic models, and formally invited Swedish participation. The Taiwanese delegation shared detailed assessments of its current energy landscape and the challenges confronting the island in its pursuit of ambitious net-zero emissions targets. Deputy Minister Jevrell outlined Sweden's perspectives on evolving global political and economic trends along with critical technological developments, expressing hope for deeper bilateral exchanges. Deputy Minister Kiang concluded this segment by conveying Taiwan's appreciation for Sweden's consistent diplomatic support.
Industry executives from both nations engaged in parallel discussions exploring collaboration opportunities in information and communications technology (ICT) and the rapidly expanding field of low-earth orbit satellite systems. Taiwanese officials highlighted the government's flagship economic initiative, "Three Major Programs for Investing in Taiwan (投資台灣三大方案)," which targets development in five strategic industrial sectors alongside healthcare advancement. The comprehensive investment framework, recently extended through 2027, specifically identifies Swedish companies as valued potential investors in Taiwan's growing technology ecosystem.
Economic data underscores the significance of the relationship, with Sweden maintaining its position as Taiwan's leading trade partner in Northern Europe and second-largest source of foreign direct investment. Bilateral trade between the two economies reached US$1.401 billion (approximately NT$42.037 billion) in 2024, reflecting the substantial commercial ties that continue to develop despite Taiwan's complex international diplomatic status. ◼