Taiwan and PIF Secretariat sign Cooperation Agreement on July 4, 2019.
Taiwan Representative Jessica Lee addressed the importance of the Agreement and Scholarship Scheme.
Lee said, "Since the year 2000, Taiwan/ROC has been partnered with the Forum Secretariat and other CROP members in various regional development projects as well as Scholarship Scheme with fruitful success. This Agreement is another manifestation of our joint commitments toward the development of Pacific island states. It is a significant step in strengthening the partnership with Forum Secretariat. It not only inks Taiwan’s contribution for the amount of 3 million US dollars from 2018-2020, but also marks our long standing support in regional development cooperation, which was noted on the 26th Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue joint statement held in Aiwo, Nauru."
"The regional development cooperation has provided important support for the implementation of regional priorities. Under this Agreement, we will work with the Forum Secretariat to carry out Taiwan’s Regional Development Assistance Program, which mainly focus on Scholarship Scheme, Smaller Island States Attachment Programme, or other initiatives by the Council of Regional Organizations of the Pacific (CROP)."
"Scholarship Scheme is aligned to the national and regional human development priorities. We cannot stress enough the importance of higher education for the youth population. We are also delighted to know there are 189 awardees and 5 of them who will pursue their education in Taiwan this year. "
Dame Meg Taylor, Secretary General for the Forum Secretariat, thanked Taiwan's long standing support to the region, and addressed that capacity building is one of the top priorities in Pacific region. She encouraged the Scholarship awardees study hard and contribute to their home countries and to the region after they finish pursuit of knowledge.
