Taiwan, a global leader in semiconductor manufacturing, considers Saudi Arabia an indispensable strategic partner, Taiwan’s economic representative to the Kingdom, Sami Jang, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Jang highlighted that current cooperation focuses on future-oriented sectors such as electric vehicles and clean energy, supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. He noted that bilateral trade has surged by an impressive 78% over the past five years.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Jang emphasized Taiwan’s pivotal role in the global economy, pointing out that the island leads the world in key industries. He said the conditions for cooperation with Saudi Arabia strengthen this position.
Taiwan has made significant advances in artificial intelligence and semiconductors, producing more than 90% of the world’s chips, fueling global economic growth and making the island an indispensable partner across sectors.
Jang underscored that Taiwan currently leads the global industry, including markets in the United States, Japan, and Germany. Taiwan has been helping the world, and now it is leading it in semiconductor production. If its exports stopped, markets would stall. Taiwan now drives the global industry, he said.
On industrial collaboration between Taiwan and the United States, Jang noted that this year, Taiwan’s TSMC signed a $165 billion deal with the US, encompassing three factories and a research center. He added that this will pave the way for more deals announced by President Donald Trump during his visit to Saudi Arabia.
Advancing Saudi-Taiwanese Cooperation
Regarding Saudi-Taiwanese ties, Jang said Taiwan will continue to work diligently to ensure ongoing cooperation between the two sides, aiming to strengthen economic and trade partnerships and pursue the interests of both sides.
He reaffirmed that Taiwan's presence serves as a vital bridge for exchanging opportunities with the Kingdom.
He added that Taiwan is advancing cooperation with Saudi Arabia across multiple sectors, particularly electric vehicles and electronics.
Taiwan is committed to supporting partnerships between Taiwanese and Saudi companies, promoting industry and economic diversification in all sectors that contribute to this visionary goal. Sustainable development, clean energy, smart cities, and environmental protection remains Taiwan's top priorities, he added.
Jang said that as Taiwan’s representative to the Kingdom, he works tirelessly to secure a prosperous economic future for the two sides.
Bilateral Trade Shows Remarkable Growth
Jang highlighted the robustness of Taiwan-Saudi economic cooperation, describing his role as a vital bridge for exchanging expertise between the two sides. He provided the following trade figures:
Record growth in trade: Bilateral trade jumped from approximately 19.7 billion riyals ($5.2 billion) in 2020 to 35.1 billion riyals ($9.3 billion) in 2024.
Growth rate: This represents a 78% increase over five years.
Saudi exports: Growth was mainly driven by rising Saudi exports to Taiwan, particularly oil and chemical products, which rose 89.9% between 2020 and 2024, while Saudi imports from Taiwan increased 33.4% over the same period.
