The first Asia-Pacific startup resource sharing framework gAsia Pass has been initiated by two non-government organizations, the R.O.C. National Association of Young Entrepreneurs and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). With the backing of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the governments of the nations within GEN Asia, an international cooperation press conference was held today, Sept. 26th, at the Taipei International Convention Center. It was declared at the press conference that Taiwan, India, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand and South Korea will be working together on building a new future startup ecosystem, with Startup Terrace as the first gateway in the Asia-Pacific region.

The 6 directors of GEN Asia member, witnessed by government representatives from startup cultivating organizations, have signed the gAsia Pass collaborative framework. And the R.O.C. National Association of Young Entrepreneurs and GEN Asia executive committee representative India have taken a further step by signing a startup resource sharing agreement on behalf of Taiwan and India, declaring that the establishment of the first international startup group platform in Taiwan. GEN chairman Jonathan Ortmans, United States Small Business Administration (SBA) senior advisor Eugene Cornelius Jr., National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) advisor Anna Roy, Ministry of Economic Affairs Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin, Small and Medium Enterprise Administration Director Wu Ming-chi, National Association of Young Entrepreneurs Chairman Hsu Huan-ching, and China Development Financial Holding Corporation Chairman Chang Chia-juch were all present to provide support.

United States GEN chairman Jonathan Ortmans said, startup resources and networking will be facilitated through GEN Asia, to develop an international startup ecosystem. Taiwan will play a pivotal role, becoming the most influential and sizable startup entrance platform in the Asia-Pacific region, by integrating and exchanging international startup funds, talent and resources. Sharing these resources and transparent core values, we invite all of our member to exchange resources and experience. This will benefit global startups as they anchor themselves and plant roots in cross-border markets.

The MOEA stated that the Taiwan government is putting maximum effort into backing both startups and small and medium enterprises. It is hoped that through gAsia Pass, cross-border research energy will be co-created and AIoT digital energy developed, while at the same time providing life-care, in hopes of providing startups with a quality environment for entrepreneurship. A virtuous circle for collection of startup resources, talent and opportunities will lead Taiwan’s SMEs to fight for innovative transformation. It will also accelerate domestic and foreign investment of NT$30 billion, and work toward the goal of creating 1500 international startups.

Hsu Huan-ching, the Chairman of the Association of Young Entrepreneurs who won the rights to host 2018 GEC+ for Taipei, points out that the Association will play the role of executive secretariat in gAsia Pass. This will make the flow of visas, funding, resources and talent throughout these cross-border startups easier and faster. Even more important will be supply and coordination in experimental domains. The member nations will show their respective advantages and strengths, thus attracting international partners to invest and set up shop here.

Taiwan has always relied on the ICT supply chain and on the integration of hardware and software. Startup Terrace, which opened this September 18, will serve as the first startup demonstrative experimental area in Asia. A 2km area will provide proof of entrepreneurial accomplishments and introduce solutions. A miniature city of the future will be built, and rent incentives, grant assistance and one-stop service will assist international startups in getting started and in visa processing.

The gAsia Pass Entrepreneurship Digital Citizen Card, privately initiated with publicly supported, operates under a policy of industry cooperation. Not only are multi-lateral or bi-lateral cooperation made possible; startups are placed as the priority. Starting in the Asia-Pacific region, local economic links will be strengthened and startup resources integrated, while Taiwan's AIoT and startup capacity is demonstrated. More active exchanges between Taiwan and other countries in the APAC region will help startups to get their starts in Taiwan, and then stay in Taiwan; this then achieves the goal of boosting economic development and consolidation throughout the region.