The Indo-Taiwan Joint Research Center on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning was inaugurated July 27 in Rupnagar, India, underscoring government efforts to deepen academic ties with the New Southbound Policy target country.

An Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation consultation on food loss and waste reduction wrapped up July 26 in Taipei City, spotlighting Taiwan’s commitment to promoting food security, combating climate change and advancing sustainable development.

Taiwan badminton ace Chou Tien-chen clinched the men’s singles at the Indonesia Open July 21 in Jakarta, becoming the first player from the country to achieve the honor.

A joint exhibition on traditional tattoo practices in Taiwan and Thailand opened July 15 at the Museum Siam in Bangkok, underscoring government efforts to strengthen cultural exchanges with the New Southbound Policy target country.

Digital Taipei wrapped up July 14 at Taipei Expo Park, with around 200 buyers from 20 countries and territories including Germany, India, Japan, the Philippines and the U.S. attending Taiwan’s top digital content trade show.

Misshapen and unsightly vegetables are being saved from the trash heap in Taiwan by food banks and environmentally conscious restaurateurs. Food banks, restaurants and retailers are teaming up to recycle produce, eliminate waste and help those in need.

Under the initiative of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) led 28 startups that have some of the best minds in AI, IoT, Healthcare, software and advanced manufacture. By showcasing their innovative tech solutions in Innovfest Unbound 2019, those startups not only caught media’s attention but also have potential collaborations with international companies.

Taiwan companies secured orders worth NT$640 million (US$20.5 million) at Innovfest Unbound in Singapore, spotlighting the success of government efforts to promote emerging enterprises, the Ministry of Science and Technology said July 9.

Local nonprofit organizations are changing lives in Myanmar. In 2018, life improved dramatically for Myanmar farmer Saw Lar Htoo when he received a new leg from Taipei City-based Eden Social Welfare Foundation (ESWF) and The Leprosy Mission Myanmar (TLMM). The 50-year-old, who had stepped on a landmine, was among the first beneficiaries of a program between the nongovernmental organizations (NGO) aimed at providing prosthetics to 300 people in the Southeast Asian nation by 2020.

Taiwan-Myanmar economic ties are scaling new heights on the back of growing direct investment. In mid-May, around 1,200 corporate representatives, entrepreneurs and government officials gathered in Myanmar’s commercial capital for the Yangon Investment Forum.