Phillips files bill to create Oklahoma trade office in Taiwan

Phillips to Run Legislation Creating the Southeast Asia Economic Trade Office

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Logan Phillips, R-Mounds, has filed legislation for the upcoming session that would establish the Southeast Asia Economic Trade Office. The office would be housed in Taiwan to advance Oklahoma's interests in the country and region.   

According to Phillips, this legislation is necessary to strengthen Oklahoma's already strong relationship with Taiwan and open up the state to new economic investment opportunities.

“This trade office would help open new markets for our state and provide increased economic opportunities for our citizens both here and around the world," Phillips said. “We have a 40 year history of partnership with Taiwan, having sister cities in both Kaohsiung City and Taipei. That partnership has benefited our state culturally for years, and now we have the opportunity to expand the economic impact it can have as well. By establishing the Southeast Asia Economic Trade Office, we can attract new investors and new industries and create new jobs for Oklahomans."

Phillips said that the main goal of the office would be to bring manufacturing jobs to the Ardmore Industrial Park and utilize the Port of Catoosa as the central shipping hub for tech goods to make their way to all parts of the country. He said that the focus will be on the manufacture of three major commodities: processor chips, drones and autonomous vehicles. In addition to tech manufacturing, Phillips envisions this office facilitating an increase in agricultural product exports and tourism.

"If we can work through this office to get agreements in place with manufacturers in Taiwan, the estimate is that over 18,000 well-paying jobs will be created at and around the Port of Catoosa and Ardmore Industrial Park," Phillips said. "These are future proof jobs that will put Oklahoma on the map as one of the premier tech manufacturing hubs in the United States. In addition to job creation, the use of the Port of Catoosa will help address the supply chain shortages we are seeing across our country. The time is now to establish this office and launch Oklahoma into the future."

The upcoming session begins on Feb. 7.