On September 30, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) hosted the "2024 Taiwan-Oklahoma UAV Industry Cooperation MOU Signing Ceremony." The event marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Taiwan Excellence Drone International Business Opportunity Alliance (TEDIBOA) and the Oklahoma Defense Industry Association (ODIA). The signing was witnessed by Mr. Chih-Ching Yang, Director General of the Industrial Development Administration (IDA), MOEA, and Mr. Ken McQueen, Secretary of Energy and Environment of the State of Oklahoma. The agreement aims to enhance bilateral cooperation in UAV supply chains and strategic partnerships.

Representatives from the MOEA, the Oklahoma government, six industry associations from Taiwan’s defense and aerospace sectors, and 15 Taiwanese companies attended the event. The initiative seeks to expand collaboration from organization-to-organization to broader industry-level cooperation.

Director General Yang emphasized the growing importance of UAVs in both defense and commercial applications. Taiwan’s UAV sector is backed by strong capabilities in design, manufacturing, and integrated systems, and has established the Asia UAV AI Innovation R&D Center in Chiayi. The MOEA will continue supporting international expansion efforts and aims to position Taiwan as the hub for democratic UAV supply chains in Asia.

Secretary McQueen noted that UAVs are one of Oklahoma’s fastest-growing industries, supported by a robust ecosystem of R&D, manufacturing, and application, along with excellent testing airspace. He expressed hope for stronger complementary cooperation with Taiwan.

TEDIBOA Chairman Mr. Kai-Hung Hu added that the alliance, established under MOEA’s initiative, will serve as a key contact point for international partners seeking collaboration with Taiwan’s UAV sector. He expressed optimism about working with Oklahoma to advance UAV technology, marketing, and business opportunities on the global stage.