Taiwnese Group Visits Indiana This Week

On Tuesday (5 October), a delegation from Taiwanese DDGS (dried distillers grains – a co-product of the ethanol industry) and grain buyers will be visiting the farm of David and Mary Howell of Middletown. In addition to the morning farm visit, the Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) is hosting a welcome reception for the group and local leaders in Muncie that evening.

The U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is sponsoring the Taiwanese delegation on a tour of Ohio and Indiana prior to the USGC-Export Exchange Conference in Chicago. David Howell serves as chairman of the Asia Advisory Team of U.S. Grains Council, as well as a farmer-director of the Indiana Corn Marketing Council. The group will also be touring the POET ethanol facility in Alexandria and Rydman & Fox, a farm fertilizer service and grain elevator in Anderson.

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Dow AgroSciences Receives Mexican Import Approval

Mexico has given Indianapolis-based Dow AgroSciences LLC import regulatory approval for corn grain produced from the seed company's technology SmartStax, reports Inside INdiana Business. The status means SmartStax can be produced and planted in the United States and Canada and grain produced from SmartStax corn can now be imported by Mexico, Japan, Taiwan and other countries.

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Taiwan Buys Indiana Corn and Soybeans

Members of a Taiwanese trade delegation signed a letter of intent last week to purchase Indiana corn and soybeans, reports Inside INdiana Business. Indiana's portion is part of a larger purchase by Taiwan from the Midwest over the next year.

Delegates of the Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission were led by Purdue alumnus, Dr. Paul M.H. Sun, Ph.D., board chair, AVRDC-The World Vegetable Center and advisor, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan. Other representatives included Mr. Yau-Kuen Hung, executive director, Taiwan Feed Industry Association (vice chairman, Sun Ford MFG., Co., Ltd.); Mr. Herbert W.Y. Huang, secretary general, Taiwan Feed Industry Association; Mr. Han-Yeh Wang, convener, board of supervisors, Taiwan Vegetable Oil Manufacturers; Mr. Tsao-Hsiung Chou, senior manager, Great Wall Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Mr. Yi-Chia Lin, Section Manager, TIET Union Corporation; Mr. Clove S.Y. Chang, director, U.S. Grains Council on Taiwan; Mr. C.M. Lynn, senior advisor, U.S. Grains Council on Taiwan; Ms. Carol L. Wang, manager, American Soybean Association; and Mr. Jong-Yean Chang, second secretary on home assignment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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Taiwan: Gateway to Asia

Indy Linked with Campinas, Brazil

Inside INdiana Business reports that Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard and Mayor Helio De Oliveria Santos of Campinas, Brazil, on Tuesday (28 July) signed an agreement to make Campinas the newest Sister City of Indianapolis. The city has existing partnerships with Cologne, Germany; Monza, Italy; Piran, Slovenia; Hangzhou, China; and Taipei, Taiwan.

According to Inside INdiana Business, the Indy Mayor's criteria for selecting a Sister City include "having a metropolitan population of more than one million, an international airport, economic vitality in multiple industries and an education and cultural infrastructure able to foster exchanges with Indianapolis institutions". However, neither Monza nor Piran meet all of those criteria. Last year, the mayor canceled a nascent Sister City agreement with Eldoret, Kenya, where the Indiana University School of Medicine and Moi University School of Medicine have engaged in a cooperative program since 1989.

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Indy and Taiwan

There's a graphic on today's business pages in The Indianapolis Star titled "A Profitable Exchange" listing the links between our state and the Pacific island nation.

It's correct as far as it goes -- but, inexplicably, it leaves out the most important link: Indianapolis (Indiana's capital) and Taipei (Taiwan's capital) are sister cities! The agreement between Indianapolis and Taipei is a year older than the agreement between Indiana and Taiwan -- 31 years vs. 30.

In any case, be sure to head over to Clowes Hall for tonight's blockbuster performance in honor of Taiwanese Heritage Week. Ro Han Mem, the famed cultural troupe from Taiwan, performs at no charge, thanks to the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Butler, the Taiwanese-American Association of Indianapolis, the State of Indiana, the City of Indianapolis, Telamon Corporation and the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Chicago.

And, yes, the Taiwanese-American Association of Indianapolis is a member of the Nationalities Council of Indiana.

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Taiwanese Cultural Troupe to Perform in Indy

Ro Han Mem" performs at 7 p.m. 5 May in Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University, Indianapolis, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Indiana-Taiwan Sister State agreement, the 31st anniversary of the Indianapolis-Taipei Sister City relationship and Taiwanese Heritage Week.

The cultural troupe is presented by the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Butler and the Taiwanese-American Association of Indianapolis.

Sponsors are the State of Indiana, the City of Indianapolis, Telamon Corporation and the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Chicago.

Admission is free, but tickets are required -- pick them up in person at the Clowes Hall Box Office (limit: two per person). For more information, go online.

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"Understanding China through Its History"

"Understanding China through Its History", a presentation by Dr. Edward McCord, begins at 7 p.m. 5 March in Mother Theresa Hackelmeier Memorial Library auditorium of Marian College, Indianapolis.

McCord is an associate professor of history and international affairs and director of the Taiwan Education and Research Program at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University. The presentation is the First Annual Alumni Global Studies Lecture.

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International Distillers Grains Conference & Trade Show

The International Distillers Grains Conference and Trade Show is set for 19-21 October in the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown.

It's sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council, which develops export markets for U.S. barley, corn, grain sorghum and related products. Founded in 1960, the Council is a private, non-profit corporation with nine international offices and programs in more than 50 countries.

Inside INdiana Business reports that Hoosier growers and the international buyers of their products will meet face-to-face this month, thanks to a series of tours and farm visits organized through regional cooperative Co-Alliance LLP.

The three-day tour event welcomes dozens of grain buyers, company representatives and government officials from Korea, Taiwan and several North African nations, and provides them with a closer look at American agriculture. The group will already be in Indiana to attend the U.S. Grains Council’s International DDG Conference in Indianapolis. (DDG = U.S. corn and distiller’s dried grains)

For a look at a recent U.S. Grains Council Global Update, click here.

馬偕博士

新桃源掌中劇團 (New Tau-Yuan Puppet Troupe) presents a performance of 馬偕博士 (“The Black-Bearded Barbarian: Rev. George Leslie Mackay”) at 4 p.m. Sunday (28 September) in the fourth floor auditorium of the North Meridian Center of Ivy Tech Community College, 50 West Fall Creek Parkway North Drive, Indianapolis.

The performance is spoken in Hoklo (the troupe's from Taiwan), but there will be English subtitles. Admission is free!

It's sponsored by The Asian Student Intercultural Association of Ivy Tech Community College and the Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis. For more information, contact John V. Conklin, 317:921-4972.

Sister City Expansion and Global Economic Ties

Guest speaker for the 23 September meeting of the World Trade Club of Indiana will be Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. He will expand on remarks made during his recent State of the City address about increasing the number of Indianapolis' sister cities and managing these relationships to provide mutual opportunities for trade and economic development.

At present, Indianapolis has four official Sister Cities: Cologne, Germany; Monza, Italy; Piran, Slovenia; Taipei, Taiwan. Developing these formal international relationships, Mayor Ballard has said, is an integral part of Indianapolis' efforts towards being a world class city.

Why were these locations chosen as sister cities with Indianapolis? What impact have these sister city agreements had on Indianapolis: culturally, diplomatically, economically?

For example a delegation from Cologne arrives in Indianapolis 4 October for a week-long visit to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Indianapolis-Cologne Sister City Partnership.

Registration for the meeting begins at 4:30 p.m., followed by the program and dinner in the Sheraton Indianapolis City Centre Hotel – Panorama Room. Cost for nonmembers is $50. For reservations, click here.

"Sunny Sports China" Gets Help from IU

Public health expert Lloyd Kolbe (left) has been asked by the Chinese government to help it implement new national guidelines requiring the country's 1.6 million schools to provide students with daily physical activity, reports the IU News Bureau.

Kolbe is a professor of applied health science in Indiana University Bloomington's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER).

The Chinese initiative, aimed at the nation's 320 million school children, is called "Sunny Sports China." Kolbe said government officials want their sports universities to continue producing elite athletes. But they also want them to focus more on helping citizens to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines through programs such as "Sunny Sports China," which will also include a recreational component for leisure time.

Kolbe traveled to China and Taiwan recently with a delegation of HPER administrators including Dean Robert M. Goodman. They met with various government officials involved with this initiative and visited several universities.

The School of HPER signed or renewed international agreements with six universities in China, including Peking University School of Public Health, Hong Kong Baptist University in Hong Kong, Beijing Sport University and Shanghai Sports University. The School of HPER also renewed an agreement with Taiwan National Sports University.

Food Buyers from Taiwan Visit Indiana

Following their attendance at the 2008 U.S. Food Export Showcase in Chicago, a delegation of food buyers from Taiwan came to Indiana this week, reports Inside INdiana Business.

Tomorrow (30 April), they will tour Caito Food Service in Indianapolis. Other stops have been the office of Indiana Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman, informal business meetings with several Hoosier food and agribusinesses (including Indiana specialty grain producers and wineries), Fair Oaks Farms dairy, and Purdue University's Food Science Laboratory.

Taipei DanceWorks Ensemble Comes to Indy

A spectacular performance is planned for 14 May to celebrate a double anniversary. The Taipei DanceWorks Ensemble presents Taiwanese folk and tap dance at 7 p.m. in the Shelton Auditorium of Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis.

This event celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Indianapolis-Taipei Sister City Relationship and Taiwanese Heritage Week. Co-sponsors are the City of Indianapolis, Telamon Corporation, Taiwanese-American Association of Indianapolis and the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Chicago.

Admission is free, although it would be helpful to the planners if you'd RSVP to Dr. Chinghai Kao.

Indy's Washington Township Links with Taiwan

"Two Washington Township principals are half a world away working to establish international partnerships for their schools," writes Gretchen Becker in today's Indianapolis Star

"Nora Elementary Principal Suzanne Zybert and Allisonville Elementary principal Mike Pomerenke left Friday [4 April] as part of the 2008 American Superintendents / Educators' Project on Chinese Language Teacher Recruitment and Sister School Partnerships [returning 12 April]....

"'Their travels are part of a township-wide goal to have global partnerships in all schools', said Marsha Reynolds, the school district's director of elementary education. Partnerships are in their sixth year and started at Crooked Creek Elementary when Reynolds was the principal.

"'Our goal is for each school to have a global partner in China or Taiwan', Reynolds said....Crooked Creek, Spring Mill and Greenbriar elementaries, Westlane Middle and North Central High schools already have established partner schools in China...."

Danish Company Acquires Peerless Pump

One of Indianapolis' oldest industrial businesses, Peerless Pump Co., has been sold to Grundfos Group, a pump-making giant headquartered in Denmark, for an undisclosed price, reports the Indianapolis Business Journal. Peerless, whose origin dates to the 1920s, had been owned by Monaco-based Thyssen-Bornemisza Group since 1976. Peerless manufactures pumps for fresh water. Much of its $110 million in sales is generated by pharmaceutical plants, offshore oil platforms and other industrial projects. Peerless also sells to municipalities and to office buildings for fire protection. Its fire protection pumps move water to upper floors of some of the world's tallest buildings, including the Sears Tower in Chicago and Taipei 101 in Taiwan. According to Grundfos, its current sales in North America are $300 million. "The U.S. pump market alone is estimated to be $6 billion, so the business potential for Grundfos is huge. With the latest acquisition, Grundfos expects to double sales within a four year period reaching $600 million."

Taiwan: From Within the Mist

Taiwan: From Within the Mist is an exhibit featuring the work of 21 artists in media such as painting, photography, digital imagery, sculpture, printmaking, video and multimedia installations. The exhibition, in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center at the University of Indianapolis, highlights Taiwanese avant-garde art as presented by a new generation of artists. It's sponsored by the Department of Art and Design at the University of Indianapolis, in conjunction with the Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, the Culture Division of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office, and the University of Indianapolis Asian Programs. The exhibit is open to the public at no charge through 7 December -- look for free parking in the lot located on the corner of Hanna Avenue and Shelby Street, Indianapolis. For more information, call 317:788-3253.

Gov. Daniels Leads Delegation to Asia

Governor Mitch Daniels heads east next week on a mission to attract new jobs and investment from Japan and Taiwan, reports Inside INdiana Business.

The 78-person state delegation includes six members of the Indiana General Assembly and seven mayors; representatives of three Indiana universities (including Patrick O’Meara, newly-designated vice-president of International Affairs for Indiana University); 25 business leaders; 23 local economic development officials and longtime Nationalities Council of Indiana supporter Theresa A. Kulczak, executive director of the Japan-America Society of Indiana.

In addition to Governor Daniels, the state will be represented by Secretary of Commerce Pat Miller, IEDC President Mickey Maurer, and Agriculture Department Director Andy Miller.

It's a quick trip: the state delegation will depart Indianapolis on 30 July 30 and return on 7 August.

The governor will meet with government leaders in Taiwan and Japan as well as business leaders from potential investors including Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Fuji Heavy Industries, among others.

The delegation will also host three business seminars for potential investors, visit the Tochigi Prefecture (Indiana's sister-state in Japan) and tour the World Expo in Nagoya, Japan. The trip will conclude with a reception for Japanese business leaders prior to the Indianapolis Colts versus Atlanta Falcons pre-season game at the Tokyo Dome.

Hung-Sheng Lion Dance Theater to Perform

A spectacular presentation of Taiwanese Lion Dance, drums, acrobats and more begins at 2 p.m. Sunday (6 May) in the Shelton Auditorium of Christian Theological Seminary, 1000 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis.

Performers are part of the Hung-Sheng Lion Dance Theater.

The presentation, sponsored by the Taiwanese-American Association of Indianapolis, is in celebration of Taiwanese Heritage Week, and honors the Indiana-Taiwan Sister State and Indianapolis-Taipei Sister City relationships. Additional sponsorship from Telamon Corp., and the Culture Center of Taipei Economic and Culture office in Chicago.

The Taiwanese-American Association of Indianapolis is a member of the Nationalities Council of Indiana.

Plaisir d’Amour for Valentine's Day

Art, music, literature and distant cultures will combine Feb. 14 at the University of Indianapolis in a unique event called Plaisir d’Amour ("Joy of Love").

Featuring members of the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble, guest vocalists from China, Asian landscape painter Master Au Ho-nien and UIndy faculty performers, the Valentine’s Day event begins at 7:30 p.m. in the university’s Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center, 1400 E. Hanna Ave. Admission is free.

Shanghai Normal University vocalists Wu Mei and Zhu Yinyuo and local opera ensemble members Jenny Searles, Angela Keeton, Nathan Bick, Samuel Spade and Dana Jones Milan will perform love songs from their respective traditions. Soprano Kathleen Hacker, associate professor and chair of music at UIndy, will perform Western love songs with accompaniment from faculty pianist Jacklyn Chan.

The program also will include readings by Billy Catchings, associate professor and chair of the UIndy communication department, including Chinese poetry and the ancient Chinese folk tale “The Love Story of Liang-Zhu,” also known as “The Butterfly Lovers.” Master Au Ho-nien, the Taiwan-based traditional landscape artist whose paintings fill a standing gallery at the university, will create a themed work of painting and calligraphy as the musicians perform.

Plaisir d’Amour is sponsored by University of Indianapolis Asian Programs and cosponsored by the UIndy Department of Music, Shanghai Normal University, the Indianapolis Opera Ensemble and the Au Ho-nien Cultural Foundation, Taipei.