Minister of Economic Affairs Mei-Hua WANG conferred the Medal of Economic Contribution on Chief Deputy Representative Mitsuaki Hoshino of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in a presentation ceremony held at the Ministry of Economic Affairs on July 6, 2022.

Chief Deputy Representative Hoshino was presented with the medal, the highest honor bestowed by the Ministry, in recognition of his outstanding dedication to and achievements in promoting closer economic, trade, industrial and investment ties between Taiwan and Japan.

Minister Wang remarked that Chief Deputy Representative Hoshino lived in Taiwan when he was a child, is fluent in Chinese, and has a proficient understanding of Taiwan affairs, making him a prime bridge for exchanges between Taiwan and Japan covering a wide range of areas.

Minister Wang also noted that due to the efforts of Chief Deputy Representative Hoshino, cooperation between Taiwan and Japan on epidemic prevention materials and equipment, vaccines, and supply chains had not been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, bilateral trade between Taiwan and Japan surged by exceeding the US$80 billion mark, and both sides realized the extent of their precious mutual friendship to which Chief Deputy Representative Hoshino contributed greatly. Minister Wang also thanked Mr. Hoshino for helping various Japanese companies to jointly participate in the development of Taiwan's offshore wind power and supporting the semiconductor industry's supply chains.

Also speaking at the ceremony, Chief Deputy Representative Hoshino said that the bilateral economic and trade exchanges between Taiwan and Japan are very close. He has been in Taiwan for more than 3 years. In 2019, the combined number of tourism visits by both sides reached 7 million, setting a new record. During the pandemic in 2020, both sides jointly explored ways to overcome pandemic restrictions by utilizing digital technology to develop hybrid exhibitions that combine online and physical activities and to convene large-scale exhibitions or corporate matchmaking meetings smoothly so that economic and trade exchanges between Taiwan and Japan could become closer and more stable.

Chief Deputy Representative Hoshino also explained that this year coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association. He thanked senior colleagues who have endeavored over the past 50 years to enhance exchanges between Taiwan and Japan, without whom, the relationship between Taiwan and Japan would never have been so close. He also look forward to further cooperation and development between Taiwan and Japan, and deepening the close friendship between the two sides.

The award presentation ceremony was held in the MOEA's main auditorium, with dozens of prominent officials from Taiwan and Japan as well as representatives of various businesses and industries taking part.

Spokesperson of the Bureau of Foreign Trade,
Ministry of Economic Affairs
Deputy Director General GJ Lee
Tel: 02-2397-7109, 02-2397-7198
Email: gjlee@trade.gov.tw

Contact person:
Director Estela Chen
Tel: 02-2397-7241, 0985-359-349
Email: estela@trade.gov.tw