Saint Lucia’s enduring relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan) continues to redound in significant ways to citizens, communities and country in general.
The two island nations share common values on national development. Taiwan has embraced the government’s vision to facilitate the development of Saint Lucia and strengthen its economy and national infrastructure through knowledge sharing, technical cooperation, trade and financial support.
On August 12, 2024, Saint Lucia and Taiwan officially announced new actions to advance the government’s people-first development agenda through a series of Bilateral Cooperation Projects., which entail timely solutions that will improve the resiliency of community infrastructure against climate hazards, enhance the capacity of first responders and provide targeted social interventions that develop human capital.
Taiwan has committed $5,587,675 towards the Bilateral Cooperation Projects. The government has identified six key initiatives which will be funded under the Bilateral Cooperation Projects.
The Bilateral Cooperation Projects: $5,587,675
• Castries East Drainage Project – Bagatelle: $350,000
• Community Centers – Castries North and Castries East: $1,500,000
• Local Government Community Project: $1,358,450
• West Coast Sub Fire Station: $1,200,000
• Youth Economy Agency – Innovation Hub: $500,000
• TVET Transformation: $679,225
“This April, I had the privilege of sitting in Parliament listening to Honourable Prime Minister Pierre deliver the 2024/2025 budget address titled Building Our Infrastructure for Our Resilient Economy. And I was pleased to see that many of the vital initiatives mentioned in the Prime Minister’s speech are included in the Bilateral Cooperation proposals submitted to my embassy by the Department of Economic Development,” said Ambassador for the Republic of China (Taiwan), H.E. Peter Chia-yen Chen.
According to the Ambassador, the funds his embassy provided encompass six projects in several critical areas, including trade, small scale infrastructure, social security and youth innovation.
“By empowering both the government and civil society, we aim to enhance national development and foster economic growth. Together, we are not just building infrastructure, but also laying the foundation for a resilient and prosperous future, The Ambassador said.
Permanent Secretary in the Department of Economic Development and the Youth Economy, Mr. Paul Hilaire the donations, are not just financial contribution, but a symbol of the deep-rooted friendship and mutual respect between the two countries.
“And for that, I would like to thank you. The projects are cross-cutting and it impacts the work of the programmes of several ministries. They are specifically designed to improve the lives and social resilience of these groups and that is the important thing. This is our mantra: to help the safety net and the whole, foundation of which we could elevate persons from where they are today,” Hilaire said.
The Government of Saint Lucia unreservedly extends its gratitude and thanks to the Government and People of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for their continuous support.