Taiwan's achievements in promoting gender equality and women's empowerment are obvious to all, and it has also become one of the bridges to integrate with international standards. To deepen the bilateral economic exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and Australia, the "Women in Trade - Taiwan-Australia Women Business Leaders Dialogue" took place today, organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and executed by the Commerce Development Research Institute. The event invited outstanding female leaders from traditional, energy, and startup industries in both countries to share how they utilize women's wisdom and communication skills to demonstrate resilient leadership in business.

Director-General of the Bureau of Foreign Trade, Chiang wen-ruo, stated in her speech that, thanks to decades of efforts by civil society organizations, Taiwan has become a leader in gender equality. Taiwan has also collaborated with like-minded countries to contribute to the international community on issues of women's empowerment and gender equality. Mrs. chiang pointed out that the pandemic has impacted various aspects of women's lives, particularly in terms of living and employment. The Taiwanese government recognizes that women are central to economic recovery and has provided a series of relief supports for women, families, and business owners, as well as assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Jennifer Polyxeni Bloomfield, Australia's Representative to Taiwan, stated in a video speech that women's empowerment and the promotion of gender equality are her top concerns and are actively promoted by both Australia and Taiwan. She was pleased to meet with female business leaders last month during the visit of Australian and Taiwanese business members to Taiwan, gaining a deeper understanding of their efforts and contributions in promoting Australia-Taiwan business connections. "From them, we can see that women play a key role in advancing business and Australia-Taiwan economic and trade partnerships. I also encourage everyone here to support women's full participation in economic, trade, and all activities through concrete actions, fostering more inclusive leadership, and enhancing women's empowerment for the benefit of all," said Jennifer. She noted that Australia has made significant progress in gender equality and women's empowerment over the years, with over 34% of board seats in large companies held by women; the female labor force participation rate has reached a historic high, and the gender pay gap continues to narrow. Taiwan has also excelled in gender equality and women's empowerment, and Australia and Taiwan continue to deepen their cooperation in this area, including encouraging women's participation in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

In the traditional industries sector, the event invited Flora Lee, Chairwoman of Shu-Long Flower, one of Taiwan's top three orchid exporters, and Emma Hammonds, Asia Regional Director of the Australian company Jackson Family Wines, to discuss how successful female leaders in traditional industries break gender barriers and limitations. In the energy sector, Chao Shu-min, General Manager of Taiwan's Cloud Leopard Energy, and Kimberly Cram MBE, Co-Founder of Australia's wind energy consultancy KIMA Energy, were invited to talk about the challenges female leaders face in the energy field. Finally, the event featured Lee Tai-yi, HR Manager at the gender-equality-focused startup 104 Corporation, who shared how the proportion of women on the boards of new enterprises has become an important indicator of corporate development.

The "Women in Trade - Taiwan-Australia Women Business Leaders Dialogue" event was lively and attended by many representatives from women's business associations and companies, highlighting the trend of gender equality issues and showcasing Taiwan's democratic, inclusive, and diverse soft power.

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