The ICDF-TAIWAN showcased the scope of its international development work and humanitarian assistance programs during the ''Taiwan NGOs International Exchange and Cooperation Exhibition'' at the Taipei World Trade Center on December 20, 2003.

The conference, attended by 53 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), celebrated the launch of a bilingual Web site for Taiwan's NGOs that will promote exchanges with the international community. Speeches by Foreign Minister and ICDF Chairman Eugene Y.H. Chien, Minister Lin Fang-mei of the National Youth Commission, H.E. Ambassador Youssou Diagne of Senegal, ROC Senator Chang Hsu-cheng, and ROC Senator Dr. Sun Kauo-hwa commemorated the occasion by highlighting the importance of NGOs in relation to social change and progress in Taiwan, in addition to their valuable contribution as an information exchange platform between Taiwan and the international community.

Keynote and guest speakers in the morning discussed issues such as the challenge of bringing information communications technology (ICT) to international conferences in developing countries. Ms. Viola Krebs, Founder and Director of ICVolunteers, and Randy Schmieder, Director at Mcart Strategy and Design Communications, discussed new communication and design services being offered to volunteers and conference organizers in Africa. Later, Mr. Stephen Clark, a Research Officer at the Asia-Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, talked about the importance of strengthening intergovernmental human rights mechanisms and the access to human rights information in the Asia-Pacfic region.

The afternoon session included presentations given by Asia-Pacific Public Affairs Forum Executive Director Dr. Tim Eing-Ming Wu and Asia Foundation in Taiwan Vice President Sue Su.

The new Web site can be seen at www.taiwanngo.org.tw

• Update: 2010/12/31
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