TAIPEI, TAIWAN— Taiwan’s foreign trade officials urged global firms, international enterprises, organizations, and research institutions to adopt Taiwan’s green products and solutions as they launched the “Go Green with Taiwan” campaign on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, at Taipei 101.
Director-General Chiang Wen-juo of the Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, underscored the global importance of this initiative with rising concerns over climate change and the growing demand for green energy, collaboration with diverse industries as crucial to building a sustainable future.
The director general emphasized that the international community is actively exploring green solutions, and mentioned that the Ministry of Trade is dedicated to facilitating connections between domestic and foreign green industries.
When BusinessMirror asked about the expected impact of this campaign on Taiwan’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the next decade, James Huang, Chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, said that their primary objective is “not the domestic economic contribution,” but, their goal is “to foster partnerships between Taiwanese green supply chain companies and global innovators, as well as companies committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”
Huang also noted that it has been a long-standing policy of the Taiwanese government to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The government plans to mobilize both the public and private sectors to reach this goal, aligning with President William Lai’s vision of transforming Taiwan into a “green island” in the 21st century.
“By green island, we mean a country with the latest cutting-edge green solutions to work with other nations in every corner of the world, so that we can contribute to the global effort of reaching net zero by 2050,” he said.
“No single country can do it alone in combating the issue of climate change,” Huang said, adding that companies and industries must work together to achieve this objective.
Huang Zhifang, Chairman of the Foreign Trade Association, echoed similar sentiments, stressing that amid substantial global challenges such as geopolitical conflicts, energy security, and food shortages in the 21st century, climate change stands out as the primary threat to humanity’s long-term survival.
She said that addressing climate change is crucial, as its impacts could jeopardize global sustainability goals and pose severe risks to mankind’s existence.
Furthermore, in addition to the international partnership forged through this campaign and the adoption of Taiwan’s green products and solutions, officials emphasized the need for concrete implementation. Taiwan’s foreign trade authorities underscored that the key to advancing innovative ideas lies in developing a specific action plan.
The “Go Green with Taiwan” initiative, organized by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the International Trade Administration (ITA), invites submissions focusing on utilizing Taiwan’s eco-friendly products and solutions and fostering technological collaboration for environmental and economic sustainability.
The campaign welcomes entries from companies, institutions such as colleges, universities, NGOs, and public associations. Submissions are accepted until August 31, 2024, and participants from around the world are encouraged to contribute and collaborate with Taiwan.
