Taipei: A government-funded program designed to facilitate training and cross-cultural exchanges for youths from Taiwan's diplomatic allies is set to commence its second round, following the successful completion of its inaugural session last month.
According to Focus Taiwan, Ke Liang-ruey, who leads the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) Department of Policy Planning and oversees the "2025 Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative -- Diplomatic Allies Inbound Track Program," announced that the first round concluded in July. The initiative initially hosted 24 participants from four of Taiwan's diplomatic allies-Eswatini, Marshall Islands, Palau, and Tuvalu-who underwent a two-week training program from July 18 to 31.
Participants from Eswatini concentrated on smart agricultural technology, focusing on automated cultivation, precision irrigation, and smart sensors. Meanwhile, attendees from the three Pacific allies were trained in developing sustainable tourism and conserving cultural resources to support local industries.
Ke expressed the ministry's hope that participants will utilize their newly acquired skills to promote development in their respective countries upon returning home. Due to its success and high demand, the second round of the Diplomatic Allies Inbound Track Program will be extended to one month and will now include not only diplomatic allies from Latin America but also non-allies in Europe.
Taiwanese embassies and representative offices are currently in the process of identifying qualified participants for the project, which is slated to begin in Taipei in mid-October. The initiative is an extension of the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative launched by the government in early 2025, which was initially aimed at providing over 800 opportunities for Taiwanese nationals aged 15 to 30 to engage in global connections and exchanges through travel abroad.
The government later broadened the program to include a reciprocal element, inviting youths from Taiwan's 12 diplomatic allies to visit the country for short-term training programs and cultural exchanges.