Taiwan is committed to expanding mutually beneficial exchanges with Indonesia and is working to boost visitor numbers from the country by fostering a Muslim-friendly environment, according to Vice President Chen Chien-jen Oct. 17.
 
Indonesia is a major target of the government’s New Southbound Policy, which seeks to boost agricultural, cultural, education, trade and tourism ties with South and Southeast Asian nations as well as Australia and New Zealand, Chen said. As Indonesia is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, deepening collaboration will also help further efforts by local businesses to tap potential-laden Muslim markets worldwide, he added.
 
The vice president made the remarks while receiving a delegation from the Indonesian Ulema Council, a Muslim clerical body, at the Office of the President in Taipei City.
 
According to Chen, strong people-to-people ties between the two sides are evidenced by the more than 250,000 migrant workers, 30,000 spouses of Republic of China (Taiwan) nationals and 5,000 students from Indonesia living in Taiwan.
 
The government has undertaken a raft of measures to strengthen Taiwan’s Muslim-friendly environment, such as setting up prayer rooms at major transportation facilities, public spaces and universities, promoting halal certification at local hotels and restaurants, and establishing the Taiwan Halal Center. Operated by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) under the auspices of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the center helps local businesses explore Muslim markets by providing information and matchmaking services.
 
Government efforts to foster a Muslim-friendly environment also extend to marking major religious festivals. In June, thousands of people gathered at Taipei Main Station to celebrate the Muslim holy day of Eid al-Fitr at an event co-organized by Taipei City Government, Taiwan Halal Center, Indonesian Economic and Trade Office to Taipei, Taipei Grand Mosque Foundation as well as Taipei-based Chinese Muslim Association.
 
Chen noted that the effectiveness of these efforts is demonstrated by Taiwan’s ranking as the seventh most Muslim-friendly destination among non-Muslim countries in the 2016 Global Muslim Travel Index published by MasterCard-CrescentRating. In the survey of 130 countries and territories, the nation improved three places from the year before. (KWS-E)
 
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