Remarks by Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry & Analysis Marcus Jadotte at AIT Reception in Honor of the Cyber Security Business Development Mission to the Asia Pacific Taipei, Taiwan, May 23, 2016

OT-1604E | Date: 05/24/2016 | (As Prepared for Delivery)

Thank you Kin for that kind introduction.

My colleagues and I in Washington appreciate all that the American Institute in Taiwan is doing to maintain and improve the economic, commercial and people-to-people ties between Taiwan and the United States. We also recognize the contribution that local Taiwan partners make, in both the public and private sectors, in order to achieve success.

This is my first visit to Taiwan. In the brief time that I have been here, I have gained a profound appreciation for the things that bring us together, and an understanding of what makes Taiwan our ninth largest trading partner.

I am joined on this Trade Mission by some of the finest companies in the United States in the realm of cyber security and information technology. Could I ask those company representatives to raise your hands…? Thank you.

I am also joined by colleagues from other parts of the Commerce Department, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology, who are eager to dialogue with Taiwan’s cyber security experts on standardization. The NIST Cybersecurity Framework, for example, proves a common language for any organization to understand, manage, and express cyber security risk, both internally and externally.

This whole-of-government effort brings together industry and academia to raise cyber security awareness across the United States, to bring much needed training to the U.S. workforce, and to ensure we have the essential educational programs needed to fill the hundreds of thousands of open cyber security jobs.

The U.S. government aims to protect critical infrastructure, not only in the U.S. but around the world and especially among our friends.

My hope is that we will see more collaboration with Taiwan. A strong partnership among industry, government, and civil society is the most effective way to combat growing threats to our cyber space.

Working together on cyber security is a win-win scenario that will make us more resilient to cyber attacks, foster closer ties, create high-skill, high-wage jobs, and bolster and protect economic prosperity.

The U.S. cyber security firms on this trade mission are dynamic, innovative, industry leaders that are looking to find business partners from within Taiwan’s large and sophisticated information & communications technology sector.

This evening, we celebrate the U.S. and Taiwan’s past success in building such a strong trade relationship. At the same time, the American Institute in Taiwan is eager to facilitate stronger, more robust trade relations that benefit both sides.

I thank the Taiwan Authorities for their gracious hospitality to meet with me and my delegation.

I hope that everyone here enjoys tonight’s reception, and I wish you all success in exploring and discovering ways to strengthen our existing relations moving forward.