Taiwan to train Indonesians

Taiwan to train Indonesians

TAIPEI (DPA): Taiwan on Tuesday launched a two-year vocational training program for 105 Indonesian youth as part of Taipei's plan to strengthen economic ties with Southeast Asian nations.

The 105 youth, mostly college graduates, will learn manufacturing skills in the fields of electric engineering, garment making, metal processing and food processing.

"They will get free board and a monthly living allowance of 200 U.S. dollars. They will go home with a 5,000-U.S.-dollar subsidy each to start business," said Chang Yu-yen from the International Corp. Department which runs the project.

Taiwan launched the training program in 1995 to help Southeast Asian nations train young entrepreneurs. It has trained 450 Indonesians and 143 Filipinos so far.

The trainees must be between 20 and 30 years old. Taiwan hopes to expand the program to other developing countries which are friendly to Taiwan.