About 29 Indonesian Youth Leaders to Participate in the Muslim Youth Exchange Camp 2018 in Taiwan

Jakarta, MINA – A total of 29 young Indonesian Muslim leaders from various professions will take part in  the Muslim Youth Exchange Camp for Southeast Asian countries in Taiwan on 22-28 July 2018.

The participants of the youth exchange program held by the Taiwan Foreign Ministry are young Muslim leaders who pass the tight selection in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia, and various countries in the world.

One of the 29 Indonesian participants is the Chief of News coverage of Mi’raj News Agency (MINA), Rana Setiawan, who is also active in Palestinian-related activities, humanitarian and halal issues.

The Director of Media Information Division of the Taipei Economic and Trade Affairs Office (TETO) in Jakarta, Kendra Chen, explained that the event titled “2018 Taiwan Muslim Youth Exchange Camp (MYEC) for Southeast Asian Countries” is a new program held for the second time in the framework of efforts by the Taiwanese government to push New Policy towards the South.

“The program is expected to serve  as a platform for invited Muslim youth and Taiwanese youth to be able to interact and understand each other,” Kendra Chen said during a program briefing in Jakarta, Wednesday (18/7).

She also said, during the program, participants will also gain a better knowledge of the development of halal industry and Muslim culture in Taiwan.

“The relationship of Republic of China (Taiwan) with Indonesia has been strong enough. And we want to further improve the quality of that relationship, to a more substantial direction, “she continued.

The good relations of both countries began to be built in 1970, marked by the opening of TETO in Jakarta. So far, good relations have focused more on economic sector, education and manpower.

Kendra said TETO also encourages people to public relations community (people to people) is also getting stronger.

According to Kendra, currently more than 300 thousand Indonesian Citizens (WNI) residing in Taiwan. The Indonesian Workers Group working in Taiwan is 270 thousand people, and Indonesian students studying in the lily country are 7,000 people. Then tens of thousands of others are Indonesian citizens who marry Taiwanese. Taiwanese citizens in Indonesia number around 20 thousand people.

The program, he said, is in line with Taiwan’s new government policy to engage their southern neighbors, especially those in Southeast Asia.

“And of course the main country in Southeast Asia is Indonesia which is predominantly Muslim,” she said.

In addition to participants from Indonesia, the MYEC program also involved dozens of participants from Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Singapore. Participants will have the opportunity to experience life in Taiwan and learn about the history and social system that prevailed there.

They will also visit the Muslim community in Taiwan and the Great Mosque in Taipei. (L / R04 /RS5)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)