The Council of Indigenous Peoples yesterday approved NT$435 million (US$13.66 million) to subsidize 23 projects to upgrade indigenous agricultural and tourism industries.
The eligible industries include agriculture with local characteristics, ecological tourism and cultural arts ventures, the council said in a statement yesterday.
The projects are part of the third stage of an industrial upgrading program operated by the agency to encourage industry development among indigenous communities, it said.
Photo courtesy of the Taitung County Government
The third stage of the program, which was launched this year and is to run until 2025, focuses on human-based values and centers on industries that are in line with the the National Development Council’s national strategic plan.
Experts from industry, government and academia are to assist a number of government agencies with organizing seminars and training sessions, and helping indigenous communities upgrade their industries based on existing foundations through branding and creating niche markets, the council said.
The first two stages of the program, which began in 2014 and lasted until last year, granted nearly NT$700 million to 28 projects, helping indigenous communities develop cultural industries, it said.
The program has generated an output value of nearly NT$2 billion in the past eight years, along with nearly 5,000 jobs, the council said.
More than 700 indigenous people have received professional certificates through the program, it added.
Tribal Food Shang and the Millet School in Taitung County, Your Mudan Touching Trip and Kasugagu in Pingtung County, Go To Datong (野趣大同) in Yilan County and Huxin Sansuan (互新三酸) in Nantou County are noted brands that emerged from cooperation between the council and local governments, it said.
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