According to the Central News Agency, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston has reported that the Taiwan Regional Association of Tanneries is set to sign a US$500 million contract with the Texas leather industry for the purchase of millions of animal hides. A Taiwan leather delegation, led by association chairman Hsu Kuo-hsuan, was scheduled to visit Texas at the end of September, mainly for sourcing Texan raw materials and strengthening trade ties with hide merchants in the southwestern US state. Hsu is scheduled to join Jeff Moseley, CEO of Texas Economic Development, an agency that markets Texas for business and tourism development, to co-endorse a letter of intent, paving the way for a contract for 4.5-5 million cow and pig hides expected to be delivered by Texan leather merchants between 2004 and 2005.

The US$500 million contract will mark the largest order ever placed by the Taiwan leather industry with the state of Texas, officials from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston said.