This afternoon on May 16, the Council of Indigenous Peoples officially inaugurated the first central government department conference room equipped with simultaneous interpretation facilities. The ceremony was held at Room 1024 on the 10^th floor of the North Building, Xinzhuang Joint Office Tower, Executive Yuan. Interpreters of eight languages – Amis, Tsou, Bunun, Kari Seediq, Paiwan, Rukai, Taiwanese Hokkien, and Hakka – were present to use the newly installed interpretation equipment for simultaneous translation, setting a precedent in creating a national language-friendly environment.

To encourage indigenous administrative agencies to establish environments conducive to the use, roots, transmission, and development of indigenous languages, the Council of Indigenous Peoples launched the Subsidy Program for Simultaneous Interpretation Equipment in Indigenous Townships (Towns, Cities, Districts) in 2023. This program has already subsidized the installation of simultaneous interpretation equipment in the conference rooms of eight township offices and representative councils, including Wufeng Township in Hsinchu County, Nanzhuang Township in Miaoli County, Xinyi Township in Nantou County, Sandimen Township, Taiwu Township, and Chunri Township in Pingtung County, and Donghe Township and Yanping Township in Taitung County, aiming to inspire more legislative bodies, councils, representative councils, and indigenous administrative agencies to promote and transmit indigenous languages.

Minister Icyang Parod emphasized the necessity for government agencies to establish simultaneous interpretation facilities in accordance with the Indigenous Languages Development Act and the Development of National Languages Act. Public sectors play a leading role in promoting the use of national languages. The Council of Indigenous Peoples has taken the lead in setting up a permanent simultaneous interpretation conference room, making the Xinzhuang Joint Office Tower, Executive Yuan, the first government building to be equipped with such multilingual facilities. These resources will be available and shared among all agencies housed in the building in the future.