KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has emerged as a top destination in Taiwan's mission to attract talent under the New Southbound Policy (NSP).

Introduced in 2016, the NSP aimed to boost cooperation and talent exchange between Taiwan and Southeast Asian, South Asian and Australasian countries.

Up to last year, data from Taiwan's Labour Ministry revealed that Malaysian professionals accounted for nearly half of the 11,647-strong international talent pool enhancing Taiwan's industry leadership.

Malaysian talent, the data showed, had played a significant role in helping shape Taiwan's educational and economic landscapes.

Taiwan's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Tien Chung-kwang said the extensive Malaysia-Taiwan alumni network, which spanned diverse sectors and is the largest of its kind, had been key.

To date, more than 100,000 Malaysians had pursued their higher education in Taiwan, said Tien.

"This network has been crucial in fostering strong bilateral ties and contributing to Malaysia's development," he said in a briefing with press from NSP nations.

"When Malaysian students come to Taiwan and return home, they gain knowledge and absorb intangible values."

Present at the briefing was East Asian & Pacific Affairs director-general Peter Lan Sha-li, who said Taiwan's education policy had encouraged overseas Chinese to pursue their education there.

This was where many Malaysians, who learned Mandarin, could excel, particularly in engineering.

Often, these students stayed back after graduation to find a job in Taiwan's electronics and semiconductor sectors.

"It is market forces that lead many graduates to stay, although there is no obligation," Lan said.

Although foreign talent were attracted to work in Taiwan, the programme also worked both ways that brought benefits to Malaysia.

Lan said many Taiwanese businesses had invested
in Malaysia after learning about the opportunities fromMalaysian students.

He added that Taiwan had been committed to updating a 1998 memorandum of understanding in collaborating in the field of talent.

"There is potential to greatly enhance collaboration, similar to other MoUs we signed with other NSP countries."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/1077531/malaysia-top-contributor-taiwans-talent-programme