TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's primary foreign aid organization, the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF, 國合會), unveiled an ambitious business incubation program on Thursday (June 19) designed to help Taiwanese companies penetrate markets in Taiwan's diplomatic allies while simultaneously strengthening those nations' industrial capabilities. The strategic initiative seeks to leverage Taiwan's technological prowess to create mutually beneficial economic relationships at a time when the self-governing island faces increasing diplomatic isolation amid pressure from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory.
The initiative represents a direct implementation of Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung's (林佳龍) recently launched "Allies Prosperity Project" (榮邦計畫), a diplomatic economic strategy aimed at deepening ties with Taiwan's remaining official allies through targeted development assistance. ICDF Secretary-General Huang Yu-lin (黃玉霖) detailed how the two-day Incubator Camp, scheduled for June 16 and 25, will strategically harness Taiwan's internationally recognized expertise in three high-value sectors — smart healthcare systems, agricultural technology innovations, and renewable energy solutions — to facilitate Taiwanese businesses' expansion into allied nations while addressing critical development needs in those countries.
The high-profile training program has assembled an impressive roster of Taiwan's business development experts, including Taiwan Venture Capital Association Secretary-General Su Shih-chung (蘇拾忠) and Cathay Financial Holdings Chief Investment Officer Sophia Cheng (程淑芬), alongside government representatives like Deputy Director Lin Chia-hui (林佳慧) from the Ministry of Economic Affairs' (MOEA, 經濟部) Small and Medium Enterprises Administration (中小及新創企業署). The camp's curriculum features specialized knowledge sharing from Taiwan's premier research institutions, with technical specialists from Taipei Medical University (TMU, 台北醫學大學), the Agricultural Research Institute (TARI, 農業試驗所), and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI, 工研院) offering insights into practical implementation challenges and success strategies in their respective fields.
ICDF officials emphasized that the incubator program represents just the first tangible implementation of the broader Allies Prosperity Project, positioning it as the foundation for a more ambitious international engagement strategy. The organization envisions its future technical missions evolving beyond traditional development assistance into dynamic innovation hubs and industry collaboration platforms that create sustainable economic partnerships with Taiwan's diplomatic allies across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. "This initiative represents Taiwan's commitment to shared prosperity through practical economic diplomacy," the fund stated, as it works to strengthen Taiwan's international relationships through mutually beneficial commercial and technological exchanges. ◼
