Women, Excellence, and Social Responsibility

During the transition from a patriarchal society to a gender-equal one, as attitudes change and values collide, the roles of women in each era impress us with their vitality and inspiration. Taiwan ranks sixth in the world and first in Asia in terms of gender equality, based on the UN Gender Inequality Index. Women have proven to be outstanding contributors in all fields in society, and have played a critical role in Taiwan’s development.

In this issue we bring you reports on outstanding women working in various fields, including atmospheric scientist and multi­disciplinary expert Lin I-i; Stephanie Ho, CEO of Yun Foong Yu Biotech; Sophia Cheng, chief investment officer at Cathay Holdings; Lin Nien Tzu, founder of the Dharti Mata Sustainable Workshop; and Vivi Lin, founder of With Red. Our articles look at the challenges they face in the workplace and in life, and bear witness to the commitment that Taiwanese women show for their jobs, society, and the environment.

Taiwan’s interactions with the inter­national community are unceasing. The publishing sector has been increasingly active and is achieving excellent results licensing original creative content into overseas markets. There has also been growth in non-­governmental exchanges between Taiwan and Lithuania. Meanwhile, through the Taiwan Beats Showcase, Taiwanese bands and singers put in an online appearance at the South by Southwest Music Festival in the US. In different ways, Taiwan continues to demonstrate its passion and vitality to the world.

In the 2021 Global Muslim Travel Index, Taiwan again moved up in rank and is now tied for second place with the UK for its Muslim-friendly travel environment, among non-members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Huang Shih-fang, director of the International Affairs Division of the Tourism Bureau, told us: “Muslims from the Middle East come from hot, dry places, so they especially love green environments, whereas Muslims from Indonesia tend to prefer big shopping centers. Taiwan has all these things, and fast transportation links as well.” This month we take a look at how the government is working with the private sector to make Taiwan an even more Muslim-friendly destination, in hopes of attracting visitors from Malaysia and Indonesia in particular.

We also report on some noteworthy products of Taiwanese R&D that won Edison Awards in 2021. And we tell how private enter­prises and NGOs have launched tree planting initiatives in response to climate change and environmental problems. The contents of this issue are as fascinating as ever; it is well worth taking some time out of your day to appreciate these stories in greater detail.