The accomplishments of Taiwan's social enterprises in recent years show the dynamism and innovation of the nation's young people, whose innovations and ideas in diverse fields have amazed the public, Premier Chang San-cheng stated today. He called for nationals to throw their support behind social enterprises.
The premier added that he was glad to see 101 social enterprises had already been registered at the social enterprises registration platform.
Chang made these remarks at the press conference for a joint exhibition at the Social Enterprise Hub, which is located at the former official residence of the premier on Jinhua Street in Taipei. At the exhibition, Chang studied the products displayed by social enterprises and learned the products' characteristics by interacting with social-enterprise members. He also tried agricultural products such as dried fruits, pure fermented plum extract and tomato juice.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs stated that the exhibition covers a series of activities held May 14-16 by the Taiwan NPO Self-Regulation Alliance. Today's events encompass the launch ceremony, fair trade fashion show and Taiwan agricultural social enterprise meal- and wine-tasting. In the following days, social enterprise products will be displayed via passive or active exhibitions as well as interactive experiences based on three major themes: food and farming innovations, fair trade and community culture.
To promote social innovations and youth startups, the government has provided one-stop integrated startup guidance services in the hope of providing the most comprehensive help possible to young aspiring entrepreneurs. In March 2015 the TAF Innovation Base was inaugurated at the former Air Force Command Headquarters. That May the premier's former official residence on Jinhua Street was turned into a base for social enterprises and youth startups. This base now comprises the Executive Yuan Start-up Hub—established in August 2015 at the garage of the premier's former residence—and the Social Enterprise Hub. Incorporating the concept of online to offline services, the one-stop service window has provided online consultations, with the base delivering offline services.