Taipei:Sixteen young Taiwanese agricultural experts are set to travel to the Netherlands as part of an annual government-funded agricultural exchange program. The initiative was highlighted during an event hosted by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Taipei headquarters.

According to Focus Taiwan, the Young Agricultural Ambassadors program, launched in 2017, is co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture. Initially aimed at fostering exchanges between Taiwan and countries included in the New Southbound Policy, the program has sent over 150 ambassadors to various countries since its inception. This year, for the first time, the program is extending its reach beyond the New Southbound Policy countries by sending a delegation to the Netherlands.

The Netherlands was selected as this year’s destination due to its global reputation in the floriculture industry and as a leader in smart agriculture. Taiwan and the Netherlands have maintained a strong agricultural partnership, holding working group meetings since 1993. Matthijs van der Hoorn, deputy representative of the Netherlands Office Taipei, emphasized the robust agricultural collaboration between the two nations during the ceremony.

This year's delegation consists of professionals in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and other related fields. Scheduled to depart Taiwan on November 8, the group will spend eight days in the Netherlands engaging with Dutch counterparts to enhance cooperation in several agricultural sectors, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.