Shanxi, Taiwan see great potential in agricultural cooperation

At a news conference on Aug 14, Zhao Wenzhi, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Shanxi Province, emphasized the agricultural sector's potential for advancing cross-Straits integration and development. Agriculture has been one of the earliest and most successful areas of exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

To implement the "22 measures for Taiwan-funded enterprises' development in agriculture and forestry sector in Chinese mainland" formulated by 11 ministries and commissions, Shanxi has developed guidelines to ensure that Taiwan enterprises can enjoy the same preferential policies as Chinese mainland enterprises.

Shanxi held the Shanxi-Taiwan Agricultural Exchange Conference in August last year. Over 200 participants attended the conference, including Taiwan businesses and representatives from Shanxi's agricultural demonstration zones and leading agrarian enterprises. They discussed development experiences and potential cooperation opportunities. Taiwan businesses expressed particular interest in Shanxi's traditional medicinal herbs, whole grains and aged vinegar.

Seven Taiwan agricultural enterprises are currently operating in Yuncheng, Jincheng, Linfen, and other areas of Shanxi. These enterprises have achieved stable operations and cooperate well with local industries. For instance, Shanxi Jiaxinda Food Co, a Taiwan-funded enterprise, has utilized Yuncheng's fruit resources to develop concentrated fruit and vegetable juice processing. In 2023, the company's revenue amounted to 400 million yuan ($55.76 million). Its products are exported to the United States, Turkiye, South Africa, and Saudi Arabia, with annual export sales exceeding 66 million yuan.