Matsu Youth Affairs Exchange Forum Advances to Dongyin, Focuses on Local Business Opportunities

(Central News Agency reporter Pan Xintong, Lienchiang County, 6th) The youth affairs exchange forum co-organized by the Lienchiang County Government's Department of Education and the Youth Affairs Committee was held on the evening of the 6th in Dongyin Township. Young people raised a wide range of issues, including tourism development, youth entrepreneurship, and local business opportunities, leading to a lively discussion atmosphere.

According to a news release from the Lienchiang County Government's Department of Education, following the first stop in Juguang, the youth affairs exchange forum was held on the evening of the 6th at the Dongyin Township Office. Representatives from the Lienchiang County Youth Affairs Committee, Liu Yuting and Tsai Peiyuan, compiled the opinions of Dongyin's youth and reported them to the Lienchiang County Government.

Tsai Peiyuan shared her personal experience of operating the Xianwei Island Cooperative, starting from one old house to revitalize Zhonglu Old Street, which has already shown initial results. However, the lease for the old house expires this December. If it cannot be renewed, the years of effort invested in revitalizing Zhonglu may be unsustainable. She called on local youth to jointly participate in adopting the area.

Chen Jielin, who wants to open a dessert shop, said that starting a business in Dongyin is not easy. Raw materials must be shipped from the main island, resulting in high freight costs that affect product prices and customer willingness to purchase. She hopes the county government can provide freight subsidies. Young entrepreneurs who want to apply for subsidies through the "Small Business Innovation Research Program" (SBIR) find it difficult to compete with operators in Nangan due to an information gap.

Lin Yuting, a military veteran who became a tour guide, said that Dongyin is actively developing its tourism industry, but the island's economic backbone during the off-season still relies on military personnel. He hopes the county government can communicate with the military to allow soldiers' island leave to start earlier on Friday evenings, thereby increasing their willingness to spend and the amount they spend in Dongyin.

Local youth Lin Zeyi emphasized that the tourism-oriented development of the Dongyin Distillery is urgent. The Dongyin Distillery may not be open for public tours due to factors such as the age of its buildings, which is a great pity. If the Dongyin Distillery could offer factory tours, DIY activities, etc., its reputation would greatly benefit local tourism.

Attending Dongyin Township Chief Lin Dejian pointed out that after waiting for many years, someone is finally willing to listen to the voices of local youth. In recent years, he has been pleased to see young people in Dongyin using their own efforts to promote the revitalization of Zhonglu Old Street, making the entire island a better place. From his perspective as township chief, he is happy to discuss policy directions with the public and help them seek more opportunities from the county government.

During her briefing, Liu Yuting emphasized that the Youth Affairs Committee continues to communicate directly with various departments of the Lienchiang County Government through meetings and other forms, turning issues such as childcare, youth housing, and the entrepreneurial environment into proposals and actually driving the gears of policy. (Editor: Li Hengshan) 1150606