An international workshop on harnessing the potential of women entrepreneurs in the high-tech sector kicked off Nov. 14 in Taipei City, bringing together 21 experts from 12 countries to discuss best practices and the latest developments across the Asia-Pacific.
Co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and American Institute in Taiwan, the three-day event is staged under the auspices of the Global Cooperation and Training Framework—a Taiwan-U.S. platform for addressing global and regional challenges. Keynote speakers include Minister without Portfolio Audrey Tang and Eugene Cornelius, deputy associate administrator of Washington-based Small Business Administration.
MOFA Secretary-General Peter M. Y. Tsai said at the opening ceremony that supporting women’s entrepreneurship in the high-tech sector underscores the commitment of the government to advancing gender equality at home and abroad. It also makes sound economic sense as this industry offers a multitude of lucrative investment opportunities throughout the region, he added.
According to Tsai, women helmed more than a third of Taiwan’s small and medium enterprises last year. This number augurs well for the future and is expected to rise as more government promotion measures come on line, he said.
Echoing Tsai’s remarks, AIT Director Kin Moy lauded Taiwan as a leading proponent of women’s rights and entrepreneurship in the Asia-Pacific. “We are determined to help the world learn from Taiwan’s expertise in a wide variety of areas through GCTF,” he said.
According to Moy, empowering women entrepreneurs is the most effective way of facilitating inclusive growth in the high-tech sector. Through initiatives such as the workshop, it is anticipated that a greater emphasis will be placed on spurring development of this field regionwide, he said.
Launched in June 2015, GCTF has seen Taiwan and the U.S. cooperate in areas like education, energy, environmental protection, international humanitarian assistance, public health and regional development. As at the end of last year, Taiwan had hosted six workshops involving more than 100 representatives from 21 countries and territories. (CPY-E)
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