November 29, 2022
No. 355
The Republic of China (Taiwan) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) jointly held their first Donor Day in Taipei on November 28. In this meeting, both reviewed the accomplishments of past collaboration, discussed future priorities and strategic goals, in order to deepen their cooperative partnership. During the event, Taiwan also announced that it would join, as a founding donor, in the EBRD’s newly established «Action for Equality and Gender Multi-donor Cooperation Fund» (A4EG Fund), which will assist more nations to implement the mainstream international values of gender equality and equal rights for underprivileged groups. The events were attended by a seven-member delegation from the EBRD led by Secretary General Kazuhiko Koguchi. Taiwan sincerely welcomes their visit. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ming-Yen Tsai received, and hosted a luncheon for the delegation.
Through strategic dialogue and sessions of in-depth discussion, the Taiwan-EBRD Donor Day saw the two parties discuss and reach consensus on such issues as cooperation to assist Ukraine and affected neighboring countries, Taiwan’s participation in the EBRD’s expanded scope of operations, and the facilitation of stronger connections between the EBRD and Taiwan’s most competitive industries. Integrating Taiwan’s advantages in such areas as ICT, smart cities, technological innovation, and cyber security, the two parties will work together to assist even more nations to empower transition in the green, digital, and economic domains.
As part of the day’s events, Taiwan also signed an agreement to cooperate with the EBRD on its A4EG Fund. Having long implemented policies promoting gender equality rights and safeguarding the rights and interests of underprivileged groups, Taiwan has grown to be a leader on such issues in Asia. Taiwan looks forward to leveraging the A4EG Fund to enhance gender equality and the economic participation of underprivileged groups in the EBRD’s countries of operation, placing particular emphasis on assisting the people of Ukraine and demonstrating the spirit in which Taiwan makes substantive contributions as a member of the international community. The agreement was cosigned by Sharon Wu, Director General of the Department of International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and Camilla Otto, Director of Donor Co-financing at the EBRD, and witnessed by MOFA Secretary General Lily L. W. Hsu and EBRD Secretary General Koguchi.
The EBRD, established in 1991 and headquartered in London, is a highly regarded regional development and financial institution. The Bank’s objective is to assist countries in central and eastern Europe, central and west Asia, and north Africa in transitioning to market economies and democratic and pluralistic societies. To date, as an important partner of the EBRD, Taiwan has participated in more than 400 EBRD technical cooperation projects. Taiwan continues to finance a number of EBRD projects through the International Cooperation and Development Fund, assisting the Bank to promote social and economic development in its countries of operation. (E)