To meet the entrepreneurial needs of overseas compatriot and Taiwanese business and increase the competitiveness of overseas compatriot enterprises and to assist them lay down the foundation for their business to develop on and increase their competitiveness, the Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) held the 2019 OCAC Taiwan Chinese Style Wheat-based Food Making Workshop November 11-16. It was attended by 29 overseas compatriot and Taiwanese business people from 12 countries (Argentina, South Africa, Eswatini, Mauritius, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia).
The Workshop included professional courses for types of foods that are very popular overseas such as Water Mixed Noodles, Fermented Wheat-based Foods and Pastry Dough, visits to two outstanding enterprises, Yang Jenq Machinery Co., Ltd. and Seven Castle Ent. Co., Ltd. and a visit to the Taiwan International Food Industry Show; there were also lectures on the current development situation of the wheat-based food industry and trends and Taiwan’s current economic development and challenges; the packed itinerary raised the skill level of participants and gave them an understanding of the development trends of the Taiwan wheat-based food industry.
On November 11, OCAC Chief Secretary Chang Liang-ming hosted the starting ceremony and the welcome lunch. In his speech he said the Workshop was handled by the China Grain Products Research & Development Institute which has trained countless chefs in Chinese style wheat foods and baking over many years. He expressed the hope that participants will take what they learn to go use in their place of residence for the benefit of overseas compatriots and, in doing so, expand the soft power of Taiwan’s wheat-based foods. On November 15, Wong Shu-hwa, Director General of the OCAC Department of Business Affairs, hosted a discussion meeting and the closing ceremony and farewell lunch. Participants engaged in exchange of opinion and shared what they had learned in the intensive one-week Workshops; they all highly affirmed this activity and thanked the OCAC and the implementing unit for providing this training opportunity and excellent instructors and courses.
The overseas compatriot and Taiwanese businesses all over the world are precious assets and back up for Taiwan and wheat-based foods are gastronomic soft power that can represent Taiwan and let it shine. The aim of this event was to increase the skill of participants so they can continue to spread Taiwanese food across the world stage when they go back home and, in doing so, increase Taiwan international visibility.
