Ali Yang, Taiwan’s representative to Jordan, on how three decades of cooperation with the EBRD, innovative re lending models and Taiwan’s high tech strengths are expanding trade access across emerging markets.
At The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) Trade Facilitation Program’s (TFP) Trade Finance Forum in Cairo, Trade Treasury Payments (TTP) spoke with Mr Ali Yang, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Jordan, about their cooperation with the EBRD and the role of public-private partnership in enabling trade.
The island has worked with the EBRD since 1991 through the TaiwanBusiness-EBRD Technical Cooperation Fund. Over that period, more than 400 joint projects have been completed with total contributions of around $350 million. Yang said, “Our partnership not only benefits Taiwan’s business community, but also provides a platform for Taiwan to share its expertise and participate in bilateral and multilateral initiatives. It has proven to be a very successful example of cooperation.”
The island’s economy has been shaped by global demand for high-tech products, most notably semiconductors and other goods that are used in AI-related manufacturing. In 2024, it’s economy grew by 4.6%, reaching $797 billion, with foreign trade totalling $869 billion. This placed it 16th in the global rakings. It is also a significant outward investor, with cumulative investment abroad exceeding $500 billion. These trends contributed to a sixth-place ranking worldwide in the 2025 IMD World Competitiveness rankings.
Yang noted the importance of public-private partnerships in expanding access to trade finance. To illustrate this, he pointed to his experience in Mongolia, where the Export-Import Bank of the Republic of China (Eximbank) established relending facilities with local partner banks. Through these facilities, Mongolian banks were able to access competitively priced credit lines and provide financing to local buyers purchasing Taiwanese products. Yang said, “This mechanism enabled buyers to access better financing while also creating export opportunities for Taiwanese businesses.”
For Yang, the partnership with the EBRD’s Trade Facilitation Programme supports Taiwanese companies entering new markets while contributing technical expertise to broader development initiatives. Yang emphasised that the objectives of strengthening trade, supporting regional resilience, and building sustainable commercial ties over time are shared by the two.
Yang said, “It is a win-win situation for both sides, and it continues to be a very fruitful partnership.”
Key Topics
- Taiwan and EBRD cooperation
- Trade facilitation programmes
- Re lending and refinancing structures
- Public and private sector collaboration
- International trade access for emerging markets
- Regional economic partnerships in Asia and the Middle East
Expert Analysis
“Taiwan’s long standing partnership with the EBRD demonstrates how a well structured approach to trade facilitation, refinancing tools and development finance can create shared opportunity. By combining public sector resources with private sector expertise, Taiwan has built a model for enabling trade across emerging markets.” Expert Analysis Us
Key Findings
- Taiwan’s cooperation with the EBRD has produced more than four hundred successful projects.
- Re lending and refinancing mechanisms significantly improve access to trade finance in partner countries. 3. Key Finding
- Taiwan’s strong economic performance enhances its role in global trade facilitation and development support.
- Partnerships that combine public institutions with private sector capacity produce scalable trade outcomes across emerging markets.
Implications
- Refinancing programmes can serve as effective tools for expanding trade in markets with limited access to affordable finance.
- Development finance institutions benefit from engaging economies with strong export capacity and technical expertise.
- Countries seeking to deepen trade in frontier markets may look to Taiwan’s cooperation model as a blueprint for structured engagement.
- Cross regional collaboration strengthens competitiveness and helps address financing gaps that restrict international trade flows.
Key Takeaway
- Taiwan’s long standing partnership with the EBRD shows how well designed refinancing tools, collaborative development finance and high tech export capacity can unlock trade opportunities across emerging markets and create shared value for all partners involved.
