He made the remarks at the "Aid for Trade Seminar" held yesterday by the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), of which Ou doubles as the chairman.

Aid for trade is defined as a development strategy where aid is used to enhance a developing country's trade capabilities. The issue came to light as most developing nations do not have the necessary resources or infrastructure to enjoy the benefits of trade.

According to Ou, trade has helped Taiwan achieve its remarkable economic success. Due to a series of government incentives in the 1950s and 1960s -- such as the establishment of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council and the foundation of Asia's first export processing zone in Kaohsiung -- Taiwan's exports grew exponentially.

Now, as the world's 17th largest country in terms of trade, Taiwan will do its part to help less developed nations boost their trade environment, so they can enjoy the same success as Taiwan did, Ou said, adding aid for trade is one of the "primary angles" for implementing international cooperation and development work.

The ICDF has taken part in many aid for trade projects over the years. The organization, for instance, has provided technical assistance to salt-water shrimp farmers in El Salvador. It has helped farmers in Paraguay market vegetable seedlings to Brazil. In Guatemala, the ICDF helped farmers produce fruit products that meet the quarantine standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In Honduras, the organization helped tilapia aquaculture operators produce and market their products.

"Taiwan and its partners should focus on achieving mutual benefit through trade, and using aid for trade to better merge our own economic development experiences into those of the global community," Ou said.

Yesterday's seminar, held at the Grand Hotel, brought together many local and international aid for trade experts. Among them were: Esperanza Duran, Executive Director of Agency of International Trade and Information Cooperation; Webster Kiang, Director General of Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Leo Titus Preville, Permanent Secretary of St. Lucia; and Nguyen Thai Hoa, Specialist of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Long An Province, Vietnam.

Fada Hsieh, Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, gave a keynote speech at the seminar.