Taiwan Today

Achieving greater gender economic equality in Taiwan has long been a top priority for the ROC government. This policymaking investment has contributed to the development of a robust economy, as well as an equitable society where all members can enjoy the fruits of their labor. Closing the gender gap between women and men’s economic participation is also a key goal for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. As part of these efforts, Taiwan hosted the APEC Conference: Innovation and ICT for Women Business June 28-29 in Taipei City. Bringing together more than 150 representatives and experts from 13 APEC economies, the conference identified new ways of boosting business opportunities and improving the lots of women through information and communications technology. Organized by Taipei-based Foundation for Women’s Rights Promotion and Development under the Cabinet’s Department for Gender Equality, the conference functioned as a multilateral platform for discussing policies and practices fostering greater uptake of new ICT devices and value-added services for the enhancement of women’s education, career and livelihood development in the APEC region. Also on the conference agenda was Taiwan’s APEC-adopted Innovation for Women and Economic initiative, which aims to assist stakeholders in formulating effective, efficient, innovative and sustainable business practices and models utilizing ICT. This program helps women earn income and protect their livelihoods from the impact of weather. It also promotes the dissemination and sharing of knowledge related to the application of ICT, enhancing the capacity of women to conduct business and trade. The initiative, proposed by Taiwan at APEC’s June 2012 Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, is important as it acknowledges the crucial role women play in innovative development and business expansion while spurring economic participation across the APEC region. Since 2003, Taiwan has championed the role of ICT in helping APEC members transform the digital divide into digital opportunities. A central pillar in this drive is the APEC Digital Opportunity Center project, providing individuals and businesses with access to education and training at 100 facilities in 10 member economies. ADOC empowers APEC’s small businesses and individuals that run them, especially women, with the ability to generate income and improve their quality of life. As of April, more than 440,000 individuals in the APEC region received training in ICT skills. More significantly, the number of female participants increased from 16 percent in 2005 to 49 percent in 2012. Economically empowering women builds better educated, healthier families and stronger communities, a fact at the heart of the government’s approach to eliminating gender inequalities. By sharing its experiences and expertise in multilateral forums such as APEC, Taiwan is helping keep the region moving toward this goal and, at the same time, further unlocking the potential for economic growth and prosperity.