Taiwan Office in Somaliland Aiding Taiwanese Businesses in Kenya

An association has been established to provide assistance to Taiwanese business people in Kenya through the joint efforts of three government agencies.

The Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association in Kenya was jointly established by the Taiwan Representative Office in Somaliland, the Overseas Community Affairs Council and the Taiwan Trade Center in Nairobi, the group told a news conference in Nairobi on Sunday.

It was set up against a backdrop of rising sentiment that is critical of China in Kenya due to Beijing’s economic practices there, such as dumping, Representative to Somaliland Allen Lou (羅震華) said, adding that the government was paying close attention to the developments.

The association in Nairobi is Taiwan’s third emergency-relief association in East Africa, following associations established in Uganda and Tanzania.

“This will help to establish a care network in the region, and provide a more complete information-exchange and mutual-assistance platform for Taiwanese operating there,” Lou said.

The number of Taiwanese who have established residency in East Africa remains low, but Kenya is an important trading partner in the area, and the representative office in Somaliland has often provided assistance to Taiwanese who travel to Kenya for business, he said.

“The establishment of this association means we can get help to Taiwanese in Kenya in a more timely manner,” he said.

“The representative office will inject whatever resources we can into the association to bolster its ability to provide assistance,” he said.

Association honorary chairman Tao Te-pen (陶德本) said that while few in number, Taiwanese living in Kenya could play a role in promoting Taiwan’s soft power and positive image, which the association would play a part in.

“This will help strengthen the connection between Taiwanese and Kenyans, and the association can help facilitate this through networking people and sharing resources,” he said.

Association president Chang Hao-ning (張皓寧) said the organization would maintain close contact with the representative office.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Taiwanese in Kenya in need of emergency assistance can call the association at +254-729-427-879, or the emergency contact number of the representative office in Somaliland at +252-636-292-616.

Taiwanese can also reach the ministry directly via its emergency contact center at 0800-085-095.