Asia-Pacific and the Middle East
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Asia-Pacific and the Middle East The Asia-Pacific region is vast, covering parts of Southeast, South, and Northern Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Central Asian republics that split from the former Soviet Union. Given the enormous differences in interests, cultural backgrounds, political systems, economic development levels, and industrial structures, the TaiwanICDF’s policies and cooperative models must be tailored for each specific sub-region. Many places in the region have faced financial crises in recent years. Countries have also had to deal with numerous challenges such as the transition to a free-trade economic system, terrorism, and rapidly spreading contagious diseases. Nonetheless, common core objectives include reducing poverty, strengthening the economy, and ensuring stable economic growth, social stability, and health care provision. As countries around the world assist the region in reducing poverty, the TaiwanICDF also works to strengthen farming and fisheries industries, MSME activity, and public health systems. Upgrading and Diversifying the the agricultural sector. The TaiwanICDF Agriculture and Fisheries designs regional assistance strategies based Industries on each country’s level of development. For Despite the diversity within the region, example, in the economically-stable gulf most economic activity still revolves around countries in the Middle East, TaiwanICDF 54 Regional Operations projects focus on upgrading production fiscal burden on local governments technology and product diversification. and keeps commodity prices high. In In Saudi Arabia, for instance, tissue response, the TaiwanICDF projects culture technology is being used to focus on increasing staple crops and create economically viable crops. diversifying horticulture, which helps Another project in Bahrain focuses on to reduce imports and save foreign landscaping and developing the flori- exchange. This tactic also boosts the culture industry. These projects help to nutritional intake of the residents in diversify the economies of these these nations. The TaiwanICDF helps two nations that presently rely on oil these countries to use their existing production. Most Southeast Asian resources to achieve stable and sus- countries are geographically close to tainable development. In Kiribati and Taiwan and already have relatively well Tuvalu, for example, the technical developed agricultural sectors. As a missions instruct farmers how to make result, the TaiwanICDF focuses on compost out of local materials. This creating local production and marketing process not only makes the land more systems for these nations and promotes fertile, but also promotes recycling. investment, seeking to commercialize In addition, seminars on near-shore agricultural production. This approach fishing and aquaculture are held, boosts incomes of farmers and fish- assisting these countries to better ermen, and also introduces investment maintain their marine resources and from Taiwan, creating a mutually achieve sustainable growth. In order to beneficial relationship. train local agricultural and fisheries The Pacific Island nations have specialists, the technical missions economies that focus on farming, carry out a variety of training courses. fishing and tourism. Despite abundant The TaiwanICDF also offers scholar- marine resources, small markets and a ship programs for these countries so lack of infrastructure and technology promising students can come to Taiwan often impede development on these to study for master’s or doctorate islands. In fact, most countries need to degrees. Human resource devel- import agricultural products and only opment will help these countries reach have enough seafood for their own self-sufficiency. consumption. This situation creates a 55 Fostering Private Sector services possible. Boosting private Development sector development raises incomes and The TaiwanICDF has promoted the quality of life. private sector development since its In addition to providing capital, inception. Projects that used to focus on human resource development and SME development have now been training in specialized fields are crucial expanded to include micro-scale to carrying out industrial development. enterprises. Credit projects were The successful development experience initially held in conjunction with of Taiwan’s SMEs is well known local development banks (such as throughout the world. In order to agricultural development banks). These introduce this model, the TaiwanICDF projects are now being extended to organizes various seminars and training commercial banks and NGOs. In the courses to share Taiwan’s achievements Central Asian republics, whose with others, including policy planning, economies are in transition, cooperation trade promotion, and micro-credit. This is primarily carried out with interna- knowledge is crucial to a country like tional multilateral organizations on Mongolia, which is presently trans- credit projects, ensuring that local forming into a market economy. residents obtain the best financial q The Horticulture Project and Landscaping Project in Bahrain w Children in the Marshall Islands showing off their fresh catch e A technician from the technical mission in the Marshall Islands introduces the concept of home horticulture to local students 56 Regional Operations Strengthening Medical and which decreases the incidence of Health Services disease. Furthermore, reducing the waste Abject poverty and disease is still of medical resources helps to ensure that endemic in Asia. Over 800 million each person has access to medical care. people in the region still have a daily In 2004, the TaiwanICDF income of less than US$1. Diseases of implemented projects within 18 poverty continue to be seen throughout countries, focusing on agrobusiness the region. In addition, considering the development, private sector growth, SARS and Avian Flu epidemics of and medical assistance. In addition to recent years, multinational public health guidance provided by the stationed management is crucial. As such, the technical mission to assist in TaiwanICDF in recent years has focused agrobusiness development, specialists on public health projects and were also sent to the Marshall Islands humanitarian medical assistance in the to hold a regional seminar on region, again using Taiwan’s expertise as sustainable near-shore fishing and a basis for these initiatives. The aquaculture development. Participants TaiwanICDF works with international had an opportunity to exchange organizations, local and foreign NGOs, opinions and better understand and specialized medical institutions to Taiwan’s background in these sectors. provide technical assistance and Private sector development projects donations of equipment, helping to assist primarily focused on micro-credit, local communities in creating grassroots assisting enterprises to obtain capital to medical and public health systems. The which they otherwise might not have TaiwanICDF sponsors outreach and access. In addition to participating in mobile clinics to provide medical care to public health projects implemented by areas that are not covered by normal the ADB and WHO, humanitarian and medical systems. It also provides medical assistance was carried out with assistance to improve the quality of local and foreign NGOs. Outreach and machinery in grassroots clinics. In mobile clinics were used during the addition, projects work to improve the execution of these projects. state of public health and sanitation, 57 Key Projects 朘 Tuvalu Horticultural Crop Development Project Goals and Benefits Tuvalu has a population of about 10,000 people, and its natural environment is not conducive to farming. To assist the people of Tuvalu to improve their diets and reduce fruit and vegetables imports, which require foreign currency, the TaiwanICDF’s technical mission has established an experimental farm to find suitable crops that thrive in Tuvalu’s environment. The technical mission also instructs farmers how to grow these items, helping to diversify crops and achieve the goal of self-sufficiency. Status Given Tuvalu’s limited arable land and the problem of soil salinization, the technical mission has assisted locals in improving planting techniques by developing a soil- less culture method that plants crops in bags filled with compost created from local materials. The mission also instructs residents to have family gardens and become self-sufficient in vegetable production. It also raises farmer incomes and reduces the need to import fruits and vegetables. Extension work is being carried out and new crops are being tested at the experimental farm. About a ▲ The technical mission in Tuvalu promotes vegetable dozen crops are gradually being cultivation by preparing sample dishes for locals extended to local farmers. 朘 International Conference on Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Development in the Pacific Islands Goals and Benefits Taiwan has a strong foundation in near-shore fishing and aquaculture. It also has abundant experience in utilization and maintenance of marine resources. In 2004, the TaiwanICDF staged an international conference in the Marshall Islands to share Taiwan’s experiences and help countries in the region promote the advancement of these sectors and work toward sustainable development. Status The international conference was held in September 2004. Seven experts from Taiwan were invited as speakers, providing their opinions on the topics at hand. Over 40 people from the Marshall Islands,