Taiwan Review
Date: November 1, 2015
By TAIWAN REVIEW
On Nov. 18 and 19, delegates from Taiwan will participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Manila, the Philippines. The annual gathering provides an opportunity for representatives, ministers and leaders from member economies to hold substantive discussions on the progress of efforts to advance regional economic integration, bolster human capital development and enhance cooperation.
Since joining APEC as a full member in 1991, Taiwan, which participates in the economic forum under the name Chinese Taipei, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to promoting common prosperity in the Asia-Pacific. Renowned for its dynamic small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and cutting-edge information and communications technology (ICT) industry, Taiwan has spearheaded APEC initiatives to spur small-business growth and enhance regional ICT infrastructure. It has likewise taken a leading role in efforts to boost food security and innovative economic development for women, and launched projects to use big and open data to improve disaster preparedness throughout the region. The member economy also regularly contributes to programs in other areas such as disease control and human resources development.
In just the past few months, Taiwan has organized and provided financial backing for several significant APEC projects. On Sept. 6, it finalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) pledging US$700,000 in additional funding to support human security and regional economic integration initiatives. The MOU was signed at the Third APEC Senior Officials’ Meeting in Cebu by officials from Taiwan and the Singapore-based APEC Secretariat. The donation to the APEC Support Fund will finance projects such as those advanced at the meeting to build comprehensive and secure trade among member economies. Part of the contribution will also be used to fund research at the APEC Policy Support Unit.
On Sept. 16, Taiwan underscored its commitment to promoting gender-balanced development in the Asia-Pacific when it organized a seminar titled Empowering Women through ICT for Inclusive Growth. The one-day event, held during the Women and the Economy 2015 Fora in the Philippines, was staged as part of APEC’s Innovation for Women and Economic Development project, which has been implemented by Taiwan since 2013. [FULL STORY]
