March 20, 2021—To help Indigenous industries take root in the local economy and attract the younger generation to return to their home towns to pursue sustainable careers or start new businesses, the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) launched the Lean Entrepreneurship Program, Innovative R&D Subsidy Program, and New Business Loan Program to provide Indigenous Peoples with material support. Today, Vice President Lai Ching-te paid a visit to the Taitung Indigenous Cultural and Creative Industries Park in person to share his own entrepreneurial experiences with youths that have returned to Taitung. Mr. Lai also made stops at several Indigenous businesses, including Bai-Chung-Ren Foodstuff Co., Ltd. and TTstyle Arts and Crafts.

During his tenure as Prime Minister, Mr. Lai promoted the National Strategic Plan for Spurring Local Economies to encourage youths living in big cities to return to their rural home towns. The plan had a particular focus on traditional Indigenous cultures and industries, and since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, the CIP has invested NT$ 430 million in Taitung through related economic and industrial development plans to support 28 Indigenous entrepreneurs in starting their own companies and 9 Indigenous businesses in upgrading their technologies and services. The CIP also established the Taitung Indigenous Cultural and Creative Industries Park (TTICC) and TTstyle Indigenous Arts and Crafts Center to gradually realize the government’s policy of promoting local economies.

CIP Minister Icyang Parod said that in order to help Indigenous industries take root under the National Strategic Plan for Spurring Local Economies, the CIP has been actively implementing related policies. According to Mr. Icyang, the five businesses (including Bai-Chung-Ren Foodstuff Co., Ltd.) attending the entrepreneurial experience sharing workshop today were all examples of Indigenous youths returning home to spur the local economies under the encouragement of the CIP, and additionally, the CIP-funded and Taitung Government-operated TTICC can serve as the best venue to make and sell creative works. Mr. Icyang added that the CIP will continue to invest in Indigenous industries to encourage Indigenous youths to create new businesses at home and bring prosperity to their communities.

Contact: Wilang Yulow (specialist)

Telephone: (02) 8995–3212