President Tsai Ing-wen launched a Taiwan-backed scholarship program while visiting Swaziland College of Technology April 18 in Mbabane, underscoring the government’s commitment to cultivating the next generation of talents in the diplomatic ally.
Nothing is more important than education when it comes to advancing national development, Tsai said. This initiative demonstrates Taiwan is willing and able to lend a helping hand while sowing the seeds of prosperity, she added.
The program awards 100 economically disadvantaged students full scholarships enabling them to take three-year courses at the college in the Swazi capital. Upon completion, they will be encouraged to pursue further education and training in Taiwan.
It is envisaged that the undertaking will dovetail with a range of measures under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Enhancement Project initiated in 2015 by Taipei City-based International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF).
During Tsai’s visit, she also presided over the donation of 300 notebook and tablet computers by Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaushieh Joseph Wu to Swazi Minister of Education and Training Phineas L. Magagula. The devices are provided by New Taipei City-headquartered Acer Inc. and Asus Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Taipei-headquartered AsusTek Computer Inc.
Later the same day, Tsai lunched with representatives of Taiwan businesses operating in the region, toured the Swazi subsidiary of Taipei City-headquartered Tex-Ray Industrial Co. Ltd., visited the tomb of King Sobhuza II to pay her respects and met with the queen mother. She banqueted in the evening with members of the Taiwan community living and working in Swaziland and southern Africa.
Another highlight of Tsai’s itinerary was an early morning inspection of Mbabane Government Hospital, where she was briefed by Taiwan’s medical mission on the results of bilateral cooperative projects like construction of a referral and emergency services complex. She also met with 10 Swazi intern physicians, recent graduates of the School of Medicine for International Students at I-Shou University in southern Taiwan’s Kaohsiung City.
As an enduring partner and long-standing friend, Taiwan will continue helping Swaziland upgrade its health care services through training initiatives including the one at ISU backed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TaiwanICDF, Tsai said.
According to the Office of the President, Tsai is in Swaziland on a four-day state visit for celebrations marking 50 years of official ties, King Mswati III’s 50th birthday and 50 years of independence from Great Britain for the landlocked nation. It is her first trip to the continent as president since taking office in May 2016. (SFC-E)
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