Taiwan, Poland ink air transport pact

2015-03-12

Taiwan concluded an air transport agreement with Poland March 5, ushering in a new era of bilateral civil aviation cooperation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The pact, which takes effect immediately, establishes a collaborative platform and opens the way for designated carriers to operate services between Taiwan and Poland. It was signed by ROC Representative to Poland Jack Chiang and Chief Representative Marek Wejtko of the Warsaw Trade Office in Taipei.

According to the MOFA, airlines will be able to operate routes from Taiwan Taoyuan and Kaohsiung international airports to Warsaw and two other Polish destinations via three midpoints. Further plans for additional routes will require approval by the civil aviation bodies of both sides.

“We are optimistic that operational flexibility made possible under the pact will spur two-way tourism and economic exchanges,” a MOFA official said.

ROC government statistics revealed that Taiwan-Poland trade reached US$1.12 billion last year, up 16 percent from 2013. To date, 27 local businesses have invested over US$200 million in the central European country.

The agreement follows a pact on youth cultural and educational exchanges finalized between Taiwan and Poland last November. Of the 54 countries and territories worldwide entering into similar air transport arrangements with Taiwan, Poland is the 14th from Europe.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xitem=228156&CtNode=414)