SLS 17RS-1291 ORIGINAL
2017 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 71
BY SENATOR RISER
SENATE. Commends the Republic of China, known as Taiwan, for positive economic
relations with Louisiana.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend the Republic of China, known as Taiwan, for positive economic relations with
3 Louisiana.
4 WHEREAS, according to 2015 figures, Taiwan is the fifth largest export market in
5 Asia for Louisiana and the ninth largest trading partner with the United States as a whole;
6 and
7 WHEREAS, in 2015, Louisiana exported to Taiwan nearly 393.2 million dollars
8 worth of raw materials, primarily petroleum and coal products, chemicals, and agricultural
9 products; and
10 WHEREAS, with Taiwan as the leading importer of United States agricultural
11 products and agribusiness continuing to be one of the leading industries in Louisiana, a
12 natural mutuality has developed which strengthens the economies in both Louisiana and
13 Taiwan; and
14 WHEREAS, as evidence of the close economic ties between Louisiana and Taiwan,
15 Louisiana maintains a trade office in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan; and
16 WHEREAS, over half of the exports from Louisiana to Taiwan are agricultural
17 products and Taiwanese entrepreneurs have made considerable investment in Louisiana; and
18 WHEREAS, among Taiwanese entrepreneurs that have made considerable
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SLS 17RS-1291 ORIGINAL
1 investment in Louisiana are the West Lake Group, Formosa Plastics, and Nanya Products
2 whose initial efforts in Louisiana petrochemical and plastics industries in Louisiana began
3 in the 1980s; and
4 WHEREAS, these and other Taiwanese enterprises have shown considerable
5 potential and continue to boost investment and create jobs in Louisiana; and
6 WHEREAS, Taiwan affords entrepreneurs who choose to invest in their economy
7 complete industrial supply chains, a high concentration of industrial clusters, and a
8 consolidated manufacturer base; and
9 WHEREAS, Taiwan, China, Vietnam, The Phillippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia
10 surround the South China Sea in the Western Pacific; and
11 WHEREAS, while countries have clashed over trade routes through the South China
12 Sea for decades, Taiwan has proven a strategic ally in the crucial area of these sea lanes that
13 are essential to Louisiana; and
14 WHEREAS, 2017 marks the thirty-second anniversary of the sister-state relationship
15 between Taiwan and Louisiana, as well as the thirty-seventh anniversary of the sister-city
16 relationship between the Taiwanese city of Taichung and the city of Baton Rouge; and
17 WHEREAS, vibrant relations between Louisiana and Taiwan hold great promise for
18 both Louisiana companies and workers to continue strengthening this partnership in
19 prosperity.
20 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
21 does hereby commend the Republic of China, known as Taiwan, for positive economic
22 relations with Louisiana.
23 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
24 Mr. Louis M. Huang, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in
25 Houston, Texas.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SR 71 Original 2017 Regular Session Riser
Commends the Republic of China, known as Taiwan, for positive economic relations with
Louisiana.
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