President Tsai Ing-wen said June 12 that the government is committed to cultivating local talent in Taiwan, spotlighting the need for a multilingual society equipped with the digital skills to thrive in the new post-pandemic world.
To supplement the country’s workforce, the government will continue to implement regulatory easing aimed at bringing in foreign professionals and top students that can improve Taiwan’s global competitiveness, she added.
The president made the remarks during the launch of the first annual Talent Circulation Alliance White Paper in Taipei City. Also attending were senior government officials and foreign dignitaries, including American Institute in Taiwan Director Brent Christensen.
According to Tsai, COVID-19 has created unprecedented challenges, highlighting the need for creative digital solutions, greater uptake of distance working and learning, and smart resource allocation.
The pandemic is causing restructuring of global supply chains, Tsai said, adding Taiwan stands ready to take advantage of these opportunities especially in the key areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and information and communication technology.
Echoing Tsai’s remarks, Christensen said talent circulation has the power to unite the public and private sectors in the U.S. with those of its like-minded partners. AIT stands ready to enthusiastically support Taiwan’s vision of becoming an international talent hub, he added.
Founded in April 2019, the TCA is a partnership between Taiwan and the U.S. involving agencies such as the Ministry of Economic Affairs and state-backed Institute for the Information Industry. Through talent exchange programs, seminars and networking opportunities, the initiative seeks to encourage the free flow of human capital while creating a deep pool of digital professionals with a global outlook. (SFC-E)