TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- A business delegation from Mongolia comprising 40 officials and professionals is visiting Taiwan to explore collaborations and business opportunities in the fields of information and communication technology (ICT), agriculture and livestock farming, as well as waste management.

Led by the newly-elected President of the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Amartuvshin Otgondavaa, the team of 78 had a joint meeting with their Taiwanese counterparts on Thursday in Taipei, reviewing the status of bilateral agricultural and livestock trade, ICT and cybersecurity policies, as well as waste management in both countries. A three-hour business matchup and networking event followed the meeting.

The event was co-hosted by the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association and the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

In the opening ceremony, chairperson of Taiwan's National Communications Commission, Chan Ting-i (詹婷怡) spoke of the 9-year-old MOU with Mongolia's Communications Regulatory Commission (CRC) in developing an information communication partnership. She said she was looking forward to a deepened collaboration between the two institutions in the era when the information technology and telecommunication regime is shifting and a cross-border, as well as cross-industry collaboration will be needed to catch up with the change.

Chan also explained why Taiwan is a trusted partner in developing ICT infrastructure: "Awareness of constructing a safe and trusted 5G communication network is mounting in the context of China's Huawei 5G security concerns, so a trusted partner does matter in their efforts to tap into the exponential growth of ICT business and to overcome the demand for a faster and a more stable 5G network."

"Taiwan has an edge in developing a safe and fast information communication and telecommunication network, and the country values data privacy and protection, which is evidenced by the passage of an act governing information communication security management last year," she added.

Chan said she was confident of the country's capability in safeguarding data security and is willing to share the know-how with the Mongolian partner in its digital transformation effort to become a "smart nation."

In addition to the partnership in the field of ICT, the delegation is also looking for expanded agricultural trade, including the nutritious sea buckthorn. President of Mongolian National Association of Fruits & Berries Nasanjargal Darjaa said at the event that he is hoping Taiwanese consumers will be able to enjoy more sea buckthorn products one day.

Taiwan imports mainly vegetarian oils from Mongolia and exports cereal/food products and wood products to the country.

According to data from the Bureau of Foreign Trade, MOEA, bilateral trade between Taiwan and Mongolia amounted to US$40.45 million in 2018, and exports from Taiwan increased by 154 percent from a year earlier.

The Mongolian delegation also visited the Smart City Summit & Expo, the largest of its kind in Asia, during the visit on Tuesday and Wednesday.