Yushan forum fosters stronger ties
This has formed a solid foundation to pursue the next phase of the New Southbound Policy, i.e. our five flagship programmes. These programmes are directed at development in the following five major areas: Human resources, innovation-based industries, regional agriculture, medical cooperation and industrial supply chains. The establishment of policy forums and youth exchange platforms, such as the Yushan Forum, is part of such efforts.
As much as the New Southbound Policy is about policies, it is also about our commitments to our neighbours in the region. In order to fulfil the region’s needs and strengthen its sense of inclusiveness and community, we are prepared to make the following five commitments: First, we will help nurture and empower the talent this region needs. Rapidly growing economies require skilled labour, engineers, and R&D personnel. Taiwan is the best talent incubator for the region as we have high-quality vocational schools and training centres, well-established higher education facilities, and the industry know-how.
Already we are providing many scholarships and educational opportunities to bring students from New Southbound countries to Taiwan. We are also expanding work-study course offerings, with a target of 5,000 students each year. These efforts will turn Taiwan into an Asian hub for industry talent development.
Second, we will share our experiences to help New Southbound countries establish domestic demand-driven industries. For example, our industry development experience in fields such as petrochemicals, ICT, and the medical sector can help inject new driving force into New Southbound countries. This will not only assist in the development of domestic demand, but raise living standards as well.
Third, we will also help New Southbound countries with their infrastructure and major development projects. To achieve this, we will establish a US$3.5 billion financing facility to be managed under our Official Development Assistance programme (i.e. the Taiwanese version of ODA).
Fourth, we will help our SMEs and NGOs share their insight and experiences with New Southbound countries. We will place particular emphasis on helping job creation at the local-level in order to contribute positively to local communities.
Fifth, we will join forces with other likeminded countries in order to strengthen our common presence in the region. We believe this will benefit peace, stability, and prosperity, both here in the region and around the world.
Liu, Bang-Chuan Senior Adviser at Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia