A Taiwanese delegation led by Minister without Portfolio Feng Yen arrived in the Philippines today to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women and the Economy 2015 Fora (WEF).
During this summit, Taiwan will co-host the Seminar of Empowering Women through ICT (Information and Communications Technologies) for Inclusive Growth in tandem with the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry on September 16. This is the first WEF seminar ever proposed and organized by Taiwan, and it is a major breakthrough in the Republic of China's international participation as well as its cooperation in promoting women's economic empowerment.
The WEF's theme this year is "Women as Prime Movers of Inclusive Growth." Empowerment, innovation and resilience are the subtopics for private- and public-sector dialogues. Given the advance of ICT and profusion of innovative applications of technology, the WEF since 2012 has listed innovation and technology as key means to bolster women's economic rights.
Echoing this year's theme, the seminar co-hosted by Taiwan will review successful cases of female entrepreneurs in the Asia-Pacific region utilizing technology. The organizers hope to create a consensus on improving women's economic opportunities and explore suggestions and strategies to help businesswomen in the region expand their opportunities.
Given the positive influence of women's startups on economic growth as well as Taiwan's competitive advantage in science and technology industry development, Minister Feng will announce at the WEF that Taiwan will develop an online course system supporting and encouraging women who start businesses. She will also declare the nation's determination to promote Asia-Pacific regional cooperation by inviting each country's representatives to join in expanding this women's business management network. By establishing an online curricular resource platform on women's entrepreneurship together, APEC countries would create an economic "spring of life" for their women.
The WEF will be held from September 15 to 18 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila. The United States, Australia, Japan and Russia are among the 21 member economies taking part.
U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Catherine M. Russell, APEC Working Group for Telecommunications and Information Chairman Andrey Mukhanov, Philippines Undersecretary for Management Services and Chief of Staff of the Department of Trade and Industry Nora K. Terrado, and UN Women's Philippines National Programme Officer Aida Jean Manipon are among the distinguished guests speaking at the WEF, the Department of Gender Equality stated.
Taiwan's delegation includes 16 representatives and three experts from the public and private sectors, such as Executive Yuan Gender Equality Committee members Lin Chun-feng and Ku Yen-lin.