Taiwan’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Gong Mingxin, recently led a delegation for the fourth time to visit the Czech Republic, meeting with high-ranking Czech parliamentary members, government officials, and officials from the Czech economic and trade sectors. The discussions aimed to explore the current status and future cooperation blueprint for industrial and technological exchanges between Taiwan and the Czech Republic, deepening the partnership between the two countries.
In a press release issued by Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs, Minister Gong Mingxin’s visit included meetings with Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil, Chief Vice President Jiří Drahoš, Chairman of the Taiwan-Friendly Group in the Chamber of Deputies Marek Benda, and former chairman Markéta Pekarová Adamová, among other high-ranking officials, to engage in in-depth discussions on industrial, technological cooperation, and future strategies between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.
Minister Gong Mingxin also attended a Taiwan-Czech business exchange dinner, delivering a speech on the prospects of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. He also visited the “Prague Taiwan Trade and Investment Center” established by the Ministry of Economic Affairs in 2024, aiming to further enhance the economic and trade relationship between Taiwan and the Czech Republic.
During the Taiwan-Czech business cooperation luncheon on the 8th, Minister Gong Mingxin expressed gratitude for the Czech Republic’s contribution to the “cycle of goodwill,” which included donating vaccines to Taiwan in 2021. He mentioned the visits of Senate President Vystrčil and Chamber of Deputies President Adamová leading large delegations to Taiwan and highlighted the efforts made by both sides in improving economic and trade relations. He emphasized that this progress was a collective achievement of all present.
Minister Gong Mingxin highlighted that the Czech Republic is Taiwan’s largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe, with bilateral trade reaching $2.37 billion last year, showing a strong growth rate of 94.79%. As of the end of October 2025, Taiwanese investments in the Czech Republic, primarily in the information and communications sector, totaled $221 million, ranking as the 8th highest investment from Taiwan to EU countries.
Furthermore, Minister Gong Mingxin mentioned that since 2021, direct flights between Taiwan and the Czech Republic have been established, and the Central and Eastern Europe Investment Fund has invested in four cases totaling €19.6 million, with a financing fund assisting in four cases totaling €75.16 million. In terms of talent cooperation, 11 Czech universities (across 13 professional fields) have collaborated with Taiwan, with 85 Czech students receiving Taiwanese scholarships for studying or training in Taiwan. Taiwan has also established a cooperation mechanism with a semiconductor company in the Czech Republic.
Addressing global trends, Minister Gong Mingxin highlighted that Taiwan and the Czech Republic can collaborate in five key areas: Artificial Intelligence (AI), drones and aerospace, electric vehicles, lasers, and electron microscopes. He mentioned how the rise of AI would drive the development of the AI and semiconductor supply chain, with companies like Foxconn, Wistron, and Quanta investing in AI servers in the Czech Republic. Taiwan and the Czech Republic also have numerous cooperative programs for semiconductor talent, and with the ongoing construction of a plant by TSMC in Germany, Taiwan and the Czech Republic can further deepen their industrial cooperation.
Minister Gong Mingxin stressed that geopolitical changes are restructuring global supply chains. He noted that Taiwan and the Czech Republic have complementary expertise in the manufacturing sector, with the Czech Republic excelling in areas like automotive and surveying, while Taiwan stands out in information and communication technology. Both countries can collaborate in entering the electric vehicle, laser, and electron microscope supply chains.
The Czech Republic has become Taiwan’s third-largest export market for drones. Minister Gong Mingxin highlighted that as the Czech Republic possesses advanced drone technology and a strategic partnership with Ukraine, it is an important strategic partner for Taiwan as the trend towards non-red supply chains for drones grows within the democratic alliance. The potential cooperation areas proposed by Minister Gong Mingxin during his speeches and meetings were well-received and supported by the Czech side.
To realize President Tsai Ing-wen’s goal of “rooting in Taiwan and expanding globally,” Minister Gong Mingxin mentioned that the Ministry of Economic Affairs established the “Taiwan Trade and Investment Center” in Prague at the end of last year. The center has serviced 13 cases and 23 information sessions to date, primarily assisting industries concentrated in semiconductors, batteries and cables, drones, and AI aerospace.
Minister Gong Mingxin visited the “Taiwan Trade and Investment Center” in Prague and received a briefing, acknowledging the center’s proactive assistance to companies intending to invest in the Czech Republic. The center has been effective in addressing practical investment issues such as visa applications, land acquisition, tax regulations, and infrastructure for power supply.