Deputy Economic Affairs Minister Chen Chern-chyi (front, fifth right) is joined by American Institute in Taiwan Director Sandra Oudkirk (front, fifth left) in giving the thumbs-up at the Indo-Pacific Women in Tech Summit under the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program running Nov. 14-16 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of Ministry of Economic Affairs)
 

The inaugural Indo-Pacific Women in Tech Summit under the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs program was staged by Taiwan and the U.S. Nov. 14-16 in Taipei City, underscoring the government’s commitment to working with like-minded partners to advance gender equality and technology development.

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration and the American Institute in Taiwan, the event was attended by entrepreneurs from Taiwan, Brunei, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and the U.S. Representatives from businesses and international nonprofit organizations were also present, as was Sara Mathews, director of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs’ Office of Press and Public Diplomacy for the U.S. State Department, was also present at the summit.

Deputy Economic Affairs Minister Chen Chern-chyi said technology is a focal point of Taiwan’s economic development and increasing numbers of women are investing in the field with support from the government’s policies. The summit enables them to share their technological expertise and successful experience with their counterparts to promote cooperation between women entrepreneurs throughout the Indo-Pacific, he added.

Established in 2019 by the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the AWE program seeks to provide women entrepreneurs with the skills, resources and networks needed to start and scale successful businesses. Taiwan joined the program in 2021 and has graduated 205 local women entrepreneurs from the program to date, according to the MOEA. (YCH-E)