Taiwan has joined an international initiative to help relaunch Ukraine’s private insurance market as part of a wider effort to rebuild its economy, which has been hard hit by the Russian invasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
Taipei signed a joint statement of intent with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD), the EU, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine on Wednesday, the ministry said in a news release.
The war has almost entirely halted the workings of Ukraine’s insurance market, which must be unlocked to private investors if its economy is to recover from the ravages of the conflict, the ministry said.
Photo: Yang Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
Taiwan, Ukraine and other partners agreed that the ERBD should establish the Ukraine Recovery Guarantee Facility to make insurance products available in Ukraine while reducing risks to private insurers involved in the effort, the ministry said.
The nation’s signing of the joint statement attested to Taiwan’s commitment to helping Ukraine, it said.
Taiwan would continue to work with like-minded countries and international organizations in bringing about peace and stability as a responsible member of the world’s democracies and the international community, the ministry said.
In aiding Ukraine’s economic recovery Taipei is demonstrating once again that Taiwan can help, it said.
The nation strives to be a force for good and Taipei is dedicated to providing aid to maintain Ukraine’s economy during the war and post-war reconstruction, it said.
The ERBD, one of the world’s foremost financial institutions for regional development, was formed in 1991 to assist members of the former communist block in developing their economies and transitioning into democratic societies, the ministry said.
Taiwan is a significant partner of the banking institution and has played a role in 400 projects under the ERBD, the ministry said, adding that the International Cooperation and Development Fund has taken part in a slew of financing operations.
The Taiwanese passport ranked 33rd in a global listing of passports by convenience this month, rising three places from last month’s ranking, but matching its position in January last year. The Henley Passport Index, an international ranking of passports by the number of designations its holder can travel to without a visa, showed that the Taiwan passport enables holders to travel to 139 countries and territories without a visa. Singapore’s passport was ranked the most powerful with visa-free access to 192 destinations out of 227, according to the index published on Tuesday by UK-based migration investment consultancy firm Henley and Partners. Japan’s and
NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT: An official said that Guan Guan’s comments had gone beyond the threshold of free speech, as she advocated for the destruction of the ROC China-born media influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China content that threatens national security, the National Immigration Agency said yesterday. Guan Guan has said many controversial things in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” while expressing hope for expedited “reunification.” The agency received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification last year. After investigating, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and account for her actions. Guan Guan appeared as required,
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A strong cold air mass is expected to arrive tonight, bringing a change in weather and a drop in temperature, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The coldest time would be early on Thursday morning, with temperatures in some areas dipping as low as 8°C, it said. Daytime highs yesterday were 22°C to 24°C in northern and eastern Taiwan, and about 25°C to 28°C in the central and southern regions, it said. However, nighttime lows would dip to about 15°C to 16°C in central and northern Taiwan as well as the northeast, and 17°C to 19°C elsewhere, it said. Tropical Storm Nokaen, currently