July 15, 2026-The grand opening of the premier promotional event "2026 Taiwan Expo in Japan" was held in Tokyo. Organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), it centered around the theme of "Innovate for Tomorrow," showcasing Taiwan's top innovations across five key sectors: smart manufacturing, energy & the circular economy, smart technology, smart healthcare, and cultural life.
MOEA Minister Kung Ming-Hsin, who led the high-level delegation, highlighted the event as a monumental milestone celebrating the profound and long-standing friendship between Taiwan and Japan. Minister Kung stated, "As global supply chains undergo major realignments amid rapid advancements in AI and net-zero carbon transformation, our relationship is transitioning from a natural trading partnership to a deeper, next-generation co-innovation alliance." This year's Expo set a record with 154 Taiwanese enterprises-representing a remarkable 15% increase compared to the previous event in 2023.
The Expo highlighted complementary industrial strengths, particularly in semiconductors and AI computing. To support this growth, TSMC is increasing its input in the Kumamoto Fab 2 to accelerate the deployment of Taiwan's supply chains in Japan, while both nations jointly advance the Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) initiative.
Bilateral ties also continue to reach historic peaks. In 2025, trade value between the two economies amounted to a staggering US$84.85 billion, and Taiwanese tourism to Japan reached an unprecedented 6.73 million visits last year, illustrating that bilateral economic and cultural exchanges continue to deepen.
To foster long-term commercial integration, the MOEA's newly inaugurated Taiwan Trade and Investment Center in Fukuoka (established in April 2025) is actively delivering seamless, one-stop advisory, matchmaking, and logistical assistance. Alongside the exhibition, the Taiwan-Japan AI Technology Forum drew leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss supply chain resilience, talent exchange, and next-generation AI innovation.