Speaking at a press conference marking the founding of the Taiwan Agricultural Global Marketing Co., Ltd. (TAGM), Premier Lin Chuan expressed hope that the company will develop Taiwan's agricultural industry production and marketing systems, establish national brands and attract more young people to the industry so that the agricultural sector will prosper again. Set up by the Council of Agriculture (COA), TAGM will also seek to increase farmers' incomes and forge comprehensive domestic and international marketing channels.
The premier noted that Taiwan's agricultural sector has natural advantages in terms of terrain and historical development, and unparalleled farming technologies that can aid the nation's foreign relations efforts. Formerly world-renowned for its exports of bananas and mushrooms, the premier said that Taiwan currently has no agricultural products that have made an impact on the international market, so getting back into the global marketplace and making Taiwan agricultural products into market leaders is currently an important challenge facing the nation's farming sector, the premier said.
The new agricultural policies proposed by President Tsai Ing-wen aim to integrate agricultural resources, utilize farmland effectively and promote local characteristics, the premier continued, adding that the goal is to encourage young people to introduce new technologies and innovative ideas that will benefit Taiwan's agricultural development.
Premier Lin also expressed hope that the young people engaged in farming will have good professional training, management capabilities and incomes. These goals depend not only on TAGM, but also on the government's efforts to implement new agricultural policies that include land policy, educating the next generation, and developing organic farming to diversify agricultural products.
According to the COA, one of TAGM's goals is to help reduce the impact of trade liberalization on Taiwan's agriculture sector and ensure sustainable development. The company's three core tasks will focus on the import and export of agricultural products, technology transfers and overseas investment and materials exports. The company is also tasked with restructuring the domestic agricultural production and marketing links; promoting agriculture in coordination with the government's New Southbound Policy; tapping markets in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, South Asia, Australia and New Zealand; and helping Taiwan businesses manufacture internationally competitive products.