Taipei, Sept. 3 (CNA) The 2017 Young Agricultural Ambassadors New Southbound Policy Exchange Program is set to kick off soon, with representatives expected to travel to Indonesia and the Philippines from Sept. 10-16.
Thirty of the youth ambassadors have been selected to undergo training and preparation over the coming two days and they will then be split into two groups, with each group visiting one of the countries to help boost cooperation, talent exchange and ties with Taiwan.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) the ambassadors possess a wide range of technical expertise including soil cover, agricultural marketing, aquaculture and innovative agriculture, and many of them have been awarded with training programs by the Council of Agriculture.
MOFA official Li Hsien-chang has said that the successful applicants include university students and young people with farming experience from 14 counties and cities.
"I was very passionate about meeting them when I was a member of the evaluation committee," he said.
He noted that the ambassador groups will meet with agricultural officials during their visits and will conduct exchanges with local farmers.
Li who will head the team that is to visit the Philippines, said he wishes to use the opportunity to develop economic and business cooperation.
"I hope the agricultural ambassadors can create a win-win situation through the exchanges," he added.
Li said he hopes Indonesia, the Philippines and all the other countries covered by the government's New Southbound Policy can form groups to visit Taiwan to learn more about the country's agricultural development.
The New Southbound Policy is aimed at strengthening Taiwan's ties with the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, New Zealand and Australia.
