Taiwan Expo in Europe opens in Warsaw

Warsaw, June 23 (CNA) The Taiwan Expo in Europe 2026 opened in Warsaw on Monday, with Taiwanese and European officials highlighting growing cooperation in sectors including artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles and advanced manufacturing, alongside plans for a technology park in Miękinia.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Taiwan Deputy Economic Affairs Minister Cynthia Kiang (江文若) said Poland has become a key partner for Taiwan's entry into the European market, noting that bilateral trade has grown by 20 percent since the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2018.

The two countries are also preparing to sign a new MOU on research and development cooperation, she said.

In an interview after the event, Kiang said many Taiwanese companies have established operations in Poland in sectors including information and communications technology and green energy storage.

As Poland accelerates industrial transformation based on its traditional strength in the automotive industry, Taiwanese companies are expanding cooperation with Polish firms across the supply chain, from research and development to manufacturing, she said.

The two sides are expected to deepen cooperation in AI and electric vehicles, Kiang added.

Meanwhile, Kevan Tsai (蔡松慧), vice president of the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA), announced that a previously proposed technology park in Poland will be built in Miękinia.

The project will include zones for battery manufacturing, public infrastructure, smart devices and services, as well as residential and lifestyle facilities, he said.

Kiang said the Ministry of Economic Affairs will assist TEEMA in coordinating with Polish national and local authorities and ensuring compliance with local regulations.

She added that the ministry established a Taiwan Trade and Investment Service Center in Warsaw at the end of 2025 to help Taiwanese businesses navigate regulations, taxation and investment issues in Central and Eastern Europe.

Kiang also highlighted Taiwan's drone industry, noting that 16 Taiwanese drone companies are participating in the expo after attending a recent Polish trade fair focused on drones and unmanned systems in March.

The companies are seeking business opportunities in Poland and the wider Central European market, she said.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Valère Moutarlier, deputy director-general of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, expressed hope for greater Taiwan-Europe cooperation in robotics, advanced manufacturing, smart technologies and the circular economy.

He said both sides should translate mutual understanding into strategic projects with tangible impact.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍), quoting former Polish President Lech Wałęsa, said "there is no freedom without solidarity," adding that democratic countries working together to build resilient supply chains embody the spirit of solidarity Poland has shared with the world.

Michał Jaros, state secretary at Poland's Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, said building resilient, democratic supply chains through "friend-shoring" is becoming increasingly important, and encouraged Polish businesses to invest in future-oriented industries.

First launched in 2017, the Taiwan Expo in Europe is being held in Poland for the first time this year, Kiang said.

The themes of this year's event include "resilience" in supply chains, "reliability" in partnerships and "rebuilding" for future development and infrastructure.

More than 100 Taiwanese companies are participating in the expo. For the first time, representatives from the European Union, Japan and Ukraine have also been invited to explore deeper supply-chain cooperation.

The event runs through June 24.