TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in San Francisco will officially open at the end of February following its move to a new building in October.

TECO San Francisco Director-General Scott Lai (賴銘琪) said the office will continue to foster exchanges between Taiwan and the US, serving as a key resource for foreign guests, domestic delegations, and overseas Taiwanese communities, per CNA.

The inauguration ceremony later this month will mark a significant milestone in Taiwan-US and Taiwan-California relations, he said.

Lai also addressed public safety concerns regarding the new premises, saying the office has coordinated with the US Diplomatic Security Service and the San Francisco Police Department to increase patrols. Internally, TECO will implement 24-hour security guard services, enhance access control, and conduct security screenings to ensure the safety of staff and visitors. Currently, all visitors must pass through a security checkpoint before entering the building, he said.

The new TECO office is located at 345 4th Street, near the Moscone Center. Taiwan also operates a five-story consular building in Los Angeles, which opened in 2023.