By Yeh Su-ping and Lee Hsin-Yin
TAIPEI, Taiwan, (CNA) – Taiwan is leveraging its advanced technology development to help diplomatic allies be better prepared for extreme weather and protect lives and economic activity from natural disasters, a government agency said Tuesday.
Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) said it signed a memorandum of understanding with the Central Weather Bureau on August 18 to export its forecasting ability to the country’s allies.
It is hoped that through the “numerical weather prediction method,” which uses mathematical models of the atmosphere and oceans to predict the weather, Taiwan’s allies could make better preparations for extreme weather events, said ICDF deputy secretary-general Alex Shyy (史立軍).
Taiwan is also hoping to help people in those countries establish disaster prevention awareness and capabilities through the use of smart technologies, Shyy said.
Similar projects have been carried out previously to help the allies improve their climate resilience, including one with St Kitts and Nevis to integrate meteorological and agricultural technologies for climate adaptation, the ICDF said.
Taiwan also partnered with Belize, Honduras and Nicaragua in similar efforts, the ICDF said, and future programs will cover countries such as Guatemala.