Taiwan is using its National Day celebrations in Atlanta to deepen business and tech links with six southern US states — good news for Taiwanese exporters and for local firms looking for new partners.

• Taiwan's Atlanta office hosted its National Day reception at the Georgia Aquarium, drawing close to 300 officials, business leaders, academics and members of the Taiwanese community.
• Office head Lin Chu-en said Taiwan wants closer cooperation in AI, healthcare, aerospace and disaster resilience.
• Taiwan's economy keeps growing on strong demand for semiconductors and AI hardware, and the US is now one of its biggest trading partners.
• Ties with Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and the Carolinas now cover tech talent training, scholarships, research and factory investment.
• US Representative Hank Johnson and several state officials attended, while Senators Tommy Tuberville and Marsha Blackburn and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee sent video greetings.

Outlook: Expect more trade missions and company visits between Taiwan and the US South, with supply-chain and AI investment the main focus.