Taiwan, EBRD celebrate 25 years of collaboration

2016/09/14

The Republic of China (Taiwan) and London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development celebrated 25 years of collaboration and 10 years since the establishment of the Taiwan Office of EBRD Business Development Sept. 12 in Taipei City, with the two sides announcing their commitment to enhancing cooperation and strengthening industry participation.

“Taiwan is the EBRD’s fourth largest donor country as well as a constructive, reliable and effective partner,” Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary-General Paul Wen-liang Chang said during a ceremony marking the event.

He added that Taiwan hopes to continue working with the EBRD to further promote the development of green energy, smart cities, small and medium-sized enterprises, and knowledge-based economies.

According to the MOFA, Taiwan’s cooperation with the bank is a model of reciprocal, mutually beneficial and sustainable relations. Over the past 25 years, the EBRD Taiwan Technical Cooperation Fund has provided investments totaling US$43 million and sponsored 270-plus projects implemented by the organization, generating more than US$500 million in business opportunities.

In this same period, Taiwan has arranged for 15 local experts in information and communications technology, green energy, transportation and water resources to serve as consultants to the bank.

Chang said the government will continue to expand two-way ties by dispatching additional industry experts to the ERBD; inviting more foreign businesspeople and officials to visit Taiwan; and deepening bilateral cooperation in Taiwan’s most competitive sectors, namely green energy, ICT and smart cities.

As part of the celebrations, a business forum on green energy and smart city development was held the same day, with more than 100 local business representatives gathering for updates on EBRD projects and business opportunities available in countries cooperating with the organization. Also attending was a four-member delegation led by Enzo Quattrociocche, secretary-general of the London-based institution.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=247936&ctNode=2194&mp=9)