President Ma Ying-jeou visited with a jade and stone carving master on Sunday. The visit to the Lapidary House of Walden in the central county of Nantou was to highlight a program which encourages the fostering of young talent in the area of traditional crafts.
Master carver Chen Pei-tse introduced the president to the carving process, and spoke about the fruits of the program.
President Ma said that Taiwan is facing a critical labor shortage. He said that when it comes to developing the nation’s economy, the government needs to do more than just expand trade. He said industrial restructuring, innovation, and labor force enrichment are also necessary.
Ma said that if the government’s program to develop young artisans could be broadened to include university students, it would enable them to merge theory with practical skills. That, he said, would help them get a head start on a future career path. The president said that the program could also increase the subsidy of NT$30,000 (nearly US$950), depending on the needs of the participant.
President Ma also gave the example of the National Palace Museum’s prized jade carving of a cabbage, saying it was clearly more than just a rock. He said that when the piece was shown in Japan, it attracted more than 600,000 visitors, thereby opening a new page in Taiwan’s exchanges with Japan.
Labor Minister Chen Hsiung-wen says that the mentorship program includes more than just stone and jade carving. He said that the program offers mentoring in 25 different fields – everything from handicrafts to woodworking and car repair. Right now there are 1,564 mentors, and nearly as many apprentices.