TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said Wednesday that Taiwan’s government-funded foreign aid agency is entering a new stage after 30 years of development work, CNA reported.
Speaking at the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund, which is overseen by the foreign ministry, Lin said the agency helped Taiwan build a more professional foreign aid system. He said Taiwan once received foreign aid, especially from the US, but now shares its development experience with other countries.
Lin said Taiwan is now known worldwide for semiconductors and artificial intelligence. He said Taiwan would share its development experience through the “Taiwan Model,” which focuses on skills, communities, smart tools, and shared growth.
Lin said the anniversary is not only a milestone but also a new starting point. He said the foreign ministry’s slogan, “Taiwan Can Help, Partners Can Lead,” reflects Taiwan’s goal of building stronger partnerships around the world.
American Institute in Taiwan Director Raymond Greene said the US helped Taiwan grow after World War II to 1951. He said Taiwan has since become an effective partner in providing technical assistance to countries in need, UDN reported.
Greene said Taiwan and the US work together on development projects in places where the US is already active. He said both sides also cooperate on international security, industrial security, public health, and supply chain resilience.
Taiwan’s overseas aid work began in 1959, when the foreign ministry sent agricultural technical teams to then-South Vietnam. Similar teams were later sent to Africa and Latin America before Taiwan combined its technical cooperation programs in 1972, per CTS News.
In the late 1980s, Taiwan created a fund to provide financial assistance to developing partner countries. The Cabinet later proposed combining all foreign aid programs under one agency, which began operations on July 1, 1996.
Today, Taiwan provides technical, medical, agricultural, and financial assistance to developing countries. Its aid work mainly focuses on diplomatic allies in the Pacific, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa.
