The Environmental Management Administration (EMA), Ministry of Environment (opens in a new window) held the northern session of the 2026 Soil and Groundwater Technology Exchange on September 21 in Beta Hall on the second floor of the GIS NTUT Convention Center. Thirty students from eight countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, took part. Presentations, workshops and site visits the following day introduced Taiwan's policies for preventing soil and groundwater pollution, remediation technologies and industry practices.
EMA Deputy Director-General Liu Jui-hsiang said that soil and groundwater pollution is receiving increasing attention as Southeast Asian economies and industries develop, making environmental management capacity and professional training even more important. Taiwan enacted the Soil and Groundwater Pollution Remediation Act in 2000 and has accumulated more than two decades of experience in pollution investigation, green remediation and regulatory implementation. The event aimed to share practical achievements and deepen environmental cooperation between Taiwan and ASEAN countries.
The first day featured three presentations representing government, academia and industry. EMA Senior Environmental Engineer Wang Chen discussed the current status and future vision of soil and groundwater protection in Taiwan. Associate Professor Chen Ku-fan of National Sun Yat-sen University's Institute of Environmental Engineering presented green and sustainable soil and groundwater remediation in the transition to net-zero emissions. Huang Ching-hsiu, Taiwan general manager of the American engineering consultancy CDM Smith, offered an industry perspective on the sector's development and future challenges. Afternoon group discussions on soil and groundwater protection in ASEAN countries encouraged participants to exchange experience on environmental conditions, policy frameworks and management needs in their home countries.
On September 22, participants were scheduled to visit SGS Taiwan's Wugu laboratory and the Soil Museum at National Taiwan University. The visits would introduce soil and groundwater testing and analysis, soil diversity, research and conservation. The Ministry of Environment (opens in a new window) said that the two-day, one-night program combined policy, academic research, industry experience and field learning, helping young students turn their learning into research and practical ideas while gradually building a professional soil and groundwater exchange network between Taiwan and ASEAN countries.