Poland, Latvia, Lithuania ink drone MOUs with Taiwan

The Taiwanese government-backed drone supply chain alliance on Friday, 15 November signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Polish-Taiwanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce to advance drone development.

The Asian country plans to expand its economic partnerships beyond the semiconductor industry and enhance its defence capabilities through drone development via stronger ties with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) countries including Poland and Lithuania, both of which are supplying drones to Ukraine.

Taiwan’s drone industry is projected to grow to EUR 880mn by 2028, with plans to produce over 10,000 drones a month, positioning Taiwan as a key supply chain hub in the Asia-Pacific region. Poland became the second ally of the alliance, after the US, as countries seek alternatives to China in the expanding global drone market.

Taiwan FM: ‘full potential for economic cooperation’ with Poland

Writing on Facebook, Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said “Poland’s economy has grown steadily over the next 30 years since democratising and adopting a market economy in 1989 (and) is now Europe’s most popular emerging market.

“After the outbreak of the Ukrainian-Russian war, the global supply chain was restructured. In order to strengthen economic resilience, all countries have strengthened cooperation with countries that share common values. Taiwan and Poland completed their democratic transformation from authoritarian rule around 1990 and thus cherish the values of democracy, rule of law and human rights.

“Taiwan can integrate advanced semiconductor technology and smart city systems, the two countries have full potential for economic cooperation, and Poland… also provides an entry point for Taiwanese companies to enter the EU market,” he added.

Taiwan diversifies in CEE

Lin led a delegation of 20 Taiwanese drone companies to Lithuania on his European trip aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and advancing drone technology cooperation. He also met with Lithuanian MEPs and signed agreements to foster collaboration in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector. 

Taiwanese drone companies on Thursday, 21 November, signed two MOUs with Lithuania to enhance collaboration in the UAV industry during the Drone Industry Business Forum in Vilnius by a representative from the Lithuanian Defence and Security Industry Association and Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. 

These two MOUs marked the third and fourth agreements signed within a week, following the one with the Polish-Taiwanese Chamber of Industry and Commerce and another with the Latvian Federation of Defence and Security Industries in Riga on Tuesday, 19 November.

New Lithuania PM wants closer relations with China

The Vilnius forum hosted Taiwanese drone manufacturers and firms from Lithuania and Ukraine, including LTMiLTech, whose products have been deployed in the war Russia is waging in Ukraine.

LTMiLTech’s Andrius Guzaitis said the company is seeking international supply chains for components and expressed optimism about collaborating more closely with Taiwanese manufacturers.

Taiwan MP Wang Ting-yu added that Taiwan is developing mine-detection drones, which could support Ukraine’s efforts against Russia.

Lin’s visit to Vilnius coincided with Lithuania’s potential shift toward improving ties with China, however, following a diplomatic dispute with Beijing in 2021.