農業是緬甸經濟命脈,農業人口超過總人口5400多萬的六成以上,在新冠疫情未見緩和的時期,為了配合緬甸政府目前大力推動優質農產品出口的政策,駐緬甸代表處李朝成大使經過幾個月的聯繫、促成,於2021年1月21日見證緬甸教育機構與國立屏東科技大學農學院簽署合作協議訓練緬甸農業儲備人才,初期先開設洋菇栽培及蘆筍栽培技術兩個訓練班,以線上授課的方式,由國立屏東科技大學農學院兩位教授負責授課,透過傳譯,預期緬甸學員經過五天密集授課之後,能夠對洋菇及蘆筍兩項經濟作物的栽培知識奠定基礎,儲備必要的農業人才;陸續再經由現場實作指導及進行進階課程,強化實務經驗,未來在建立雙方投資及合作機制後,可以立即投入栽種及產銷行列。
這是我國於2016年開始推動新南向政策後,由於新冠疫情,雙方專業人士尚無法自由進出的重重限制下,駐緬甸代表處以創新構想,洽獲國立屏東科技大學戴昌賢校長、李柏旻國際長及農學院陳和賢院長大力支持,推薦兩位學養均優的資深教授出面授課;目標設定在配合緬甸政府積極推動農產品外銷的新政策,結合臺緬雙方現有教育資源,由緬方教育機構自籌經費,臺方提供專業訓練課程,建立培訓緬甸農業人力資源的新模式,先期以線上教學的方式推動新南向政策2.0的農業合作計畫,強化臺灣與緬甸長遠的互利合作關係。
Agriculture is Myanmar’s economic lifeline. More than 60 percent of Myanmar population draws their livelihoods by agriculture.
In order to support Myanmar union government’s policy of quality agricultural products exports, Charles Li, Ambassador of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Myanmar has devoted himself to bridging a Myanmar education institution The SML International Education Services and the College of Agriculture, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology for signing a contract on training Myanmar agricultural talent pool. After few months of seamless coordination, the contract was inked on January 21, 2021 amid rampant COVID-19 pandemic.
Initially, two online training courses on how to cultivate mushrooms and asparagus will be introduced respectively. Then on-site exercise is offered, followed by the completion of online training to equip trainees with practical experiences. Upon the bilateral investment in place, those talents will be able to engage in growing and marketing Myanmar agri-food.
Rolled out in 2016, New South Bound policy aims to promote relationship between Taiwan and South East Asian countries. Due to travel restrictions during the pandemic, professionals are not allowed to enter border to carry out business, however.
TECO in Myanmar seeks to boost bilateral exchanges in a creative way by initiating the aforementioned cooperation mechanism. The efforts have been cemented by the university’s staunch support every step of the way. In sync with Myanmar union government’s flagship policy on agricultural exports, such a cooperation mechanism allows Taiwan and Myanmar to share existing resources and establish a new model on agricultural education. With continued collaboration from both sides, this pioneering work is believed to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation relationship in the long haul.