The Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) in Chennai has been working to promote cultural ties besides providing travel, business opportunities to students, industrialists and others for the last 14 years.
in an interview with The HinduStephen SC Hsu, Director General, TECC Chennai, explains how Taiwan and South India can strengthen cooperation under their idea of ’Design from Taiwan, Make in Tamil Nadu’.
India and Taiwan have continuously expanded their relations in recent years. How do you assess the current state of bilateral relations, especially between Taiwan and South India?
Taiwan and India enjoy a strong and ever-growing partnership based on shared democratic values, economic complementarity and mutual trust. South India, especially Tamil Nadu, has become one of the most dynamic regions for Taiwan’s involvement. According to data from our Ministry of Economic Affairs, bilateral trade between Taiwan and India has reached a record high year on year.
In 2024, the bilateral trade volume between Taiwan and India exceeded US$10 billion for the first time, reaching US$10.6 billion, and in 2025 it reached a new record of US$12.5 billion. It has reached US$8.6 billion from January to June (2026), which is 43% more than the same period in 2025. There should be a chance to make a new record this year. However, Taiwan’s trade between India and Taiwan accounts for only 1% of Taiwan’s total annual import and export trade, and there is still much room for growth. By June 2026, about 325 Taiwanese businessmen have invested in India, creating about 2,14,400 jobs.
Today, our cooperation extends far beyond trade. We are working together in semiconductor, electronics manufacturing, information technology, higher education and talent development. More Taiwanese companies are investing in South India, while educational and cultural exchanges continue to grow.
Tamil Nadu’s industrial strength, skilled workforce and ecosystem make it an ideal partner for Taiwan. I believe that relations between Taiwan and South India have entered a new golden phase – from cooperation to long-term partnership and ecosystem integration.
Are there any specific areas that you feel offer great potential for deeper cooperation between Tamil Nadu and Taiwan in the coming years?
Absolutely! There are many areas where Taiwan and Tamil Nadu can achieve win-win cooperation. The first is the semiconductor, AI and electronics industries. Taiwan is a global leader in the semiconductor and AI industry, while Tamil Nadu is fast emerging as an electronics and advanced manufacturing hub.
Second, electric vehicles and green technologies present potential opportunities. Taiwan has strong capabilities in EV components, batteries, precision machinery and smart mobility solutions. Third, digital transformation, Industry 4.0 and smart advanced manufacturing will become increasingly important areas of cooperation. Ultimately, I believe our cooperation should focus not only on investment but also on innovation, talent cultivation and joint research.
Are there scholarship opportunities and academic exchange programs that may be of interest to students from Tamil Nadu?
Definitely! Taiwan offers wide opportunities for students from Tamil Nadu. Over the past three years, we have awarded six scholarships to students from Tamil Nadu.
Taiwan Scholarships for undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral degrees (Ministry of Education). Recipients typically receive the following monthly stipend:
*Graduate students: NT$15,000 per month
* Master and Ph.D. Students: NT$20,000 per month
*The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Taiwan Scholarship provides the following monthly living allowance:
* Pre-Degree Mandarin Language Enrichment Program (LEP): NT$28,000 per month
* Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Ph.D. Degree Program: NT$33,000 per month
In addition, MOFA scholarship recipients receive:
* One-way economy-class airfare to Taiwan at the beginning of the program and one-way return airfare upon successful completion of the scholarship.
* Possible tuition and miscellaneous fee reductions or waivers offered by the host university (these are determined by the university and are not guaranteed by MOFA).
* MOFA Taiwan Scholarships aims to encourage outstanding international students to pursue higher education in Taiwan while strengthening friendship and bilateral relations between Taiwan and partner countries.
* Huayu Enrichment Scholarship (HES) for students wishing to study Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan.
* Scholarships offered by Taiwanese universities, many of which offer tuition waivers and monthly stipends.
* Taiwan Experience Education Program (TEEP), which provides international students with practical research, laboratory experiences, and short-term internships at Taiwanese universities and research institutes.
* The International Internship Pilot Program (IIPP), which connects talented international students with internship opportunities in Taiwan’s leading industries, particularly science, technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing.
* Research fellowships, academic exchanges and joint university programs that promote international cooperation.
These programs may provide tuition assistance, monthly living allowances, research funding, internship opportunities, or a combination of these benefits, depending on the specific program. Taiwan welcomes talented students from India, and we hope that more youth from South India will choose Taiwan as a destination for higher education, research, innovation and career development.
Do you see any particular trends in the tourism sector? How have been the statistics of tourists going to Taiwan from South India?
Yes! We have seen encouraging growth in tourism in India, including South India. More Indian travelers are viewing Taiwan as a destination that offers beautiful natural scenery, vibrant cities, rich cultural heritage, delicious food, excellent public transportation and a safe travel environment.
A large number of visitors are also traveling for education, business, exhibitions, medical services and incentive travel, reflecting the growing diversity of Taiwan-South India exchanges. In 2022, a total of 1,888 visas were issued to applicants from South India to travel to Taiwan for study or work or business purposes. It increases to 4,685 in 2023 and then to 5,633 in 2024. Last year it further increased to 6,569 and by 2026 this figure has reached 3,449.
We look forward to welcoming even more visitors from Tamil Nadu and across South India in the coming years by promoting Taiwan’s unique tourism experiences and strengthening tourism cooperation with local travel partners.
Are there specific sectors in Tamil Nadu that Taiwanese businessmen may be interested in?
Yes! Taiwanese companies see significant opportunities in Tamil Nadu. Priority sectors include electronics manufacturing, footwear, textiles, precision machinery, information and communication technology, logistics. Tamil Nadu has developed one of India’s mature manufacturing ecosystems supported by infrastructure, skilled workforce and proactive industrial policy.
Taiwanese enterprises are particularly interested in forming long-term partnerships with local industries, participating in supply chain development, and contributing to South India’s manufacturing development. We also encourage cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises, as SMEs are the backbone of the economies of both Taiwan and Tamil Nadu.
Are there opportunities for collaboration in technology and innovation between Taiwanese institutions and Tamil Nadu startups, universities or industries?
Definitely! Innovation flourishes when universities, research institutes, startups and industry work together. Taiwan has developed a vibrant innovation ecosystem supported by world-class universities, science parks, research institutes and technology companies. We encourage joint research projects, faculty exchanges, startup collaborations, incubation programmes, innovation collaborations, technology transfer and industrial internships.
A good example of this is the recent collaboration between National Formosa University (NFU) in Taiwan, Chennai Institute of Technology (CIT) and AGEM Technology of Taiwan, which launched the first pilot project in South India on semiconductor research and will set up an industry-academic office on talent development on September 21. This initiative demonstrates the strong potential of academic-industry partnerships between Taiwan and Tamil Nadu in strategic technology areas. Our goal is to help build long-term innovation partnerships that benefit both Taiwan and South India.
Have you made any representation to the Tamil Nadu Government recently?
On July 17, 2026, I attended a seminar ‘Global Partnership for Tamil Nadu’s US$1.5 trillion economy vision’ organized by Tamil Nadu Guidance, in which Industries Minister S. Kirtan was also included. In my remarks, I made three investment suggestions to the Tamil Nadu government: setting up an efficient single window for implementation; the construction of an industrial technology park exclusively for Taiwanese businesses with stable water and power supply and comprehensive infrastructure; and simplifying administrative processes.
What are your priorities for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in Chennai in the next few years?
As the de facto Taiwan Consulate, our mission is to serve as a bridge between Taiwan and South India. My main mission is to further strengthen the IT (India and Taiwan) partnership to infinity. My vision for Tamil Nadu for the next decade is “Design from Taiwan, Make in Tamil Nadu”. Over the next few years, we will continue to strengthen cooperation in five key areas.
First, expansion of economic and investment partnerships. Second, promote education, talent development and youth exchange. Third, to encourage cooperation in science, technology, innovation and industrial development. Fourth, deepen cultural understanding and people-to-people ties. Finally, to continue to support Taiwanese businesses by facilitating new partnerships with local governments, universities, research institutions and industries.
At TECC in Chennai, we believe that lasting partnerships are built on trust, friendship and shared prosperity. We are committed to working closely with our partners in South India to create more opportunities and write together the next chapter of Taiwan-South India cooperation. And I look forward to meeting your Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay along with a delegation of some prominent members of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in Chennai soon.
