Last Updated on October 16, 2021, 6:45 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Basseterre: Women across the Federation will be the beneficiaries of a new project sponsored by the Republic of China in Taiwan, through its International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF Taiwan). The project, titled Technical Assistance for Women’s Employment, Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion in Saint Kitts-Nevis, will provide technical and financial support to unemployed women and women entrepreneurs struggling with the COVID-19 environment.
The official project signing ceremony took place on Tuesday, October 12 at the Taiwan Technical Mission Office, Needsmust, and was honored by the presence of the Ambassador of the Republic of China to Taiwan, Michael Chau-Horng Lin, as well as Eugene Hamilton, Minister of Social Development and Gender Affairs. Giving an overview of the project, Ambassador Chau-Horng Lin disclosed that the project was intended to support relieve the pressures of the pandemic on one of the most vulnerable groups in society – women. “This program will not only teach women how to fish, but will provide them with a fishing net,” he said.
The Ambassador noted that the initiative was a regional initiative that would benefit nine Caribbean countries and provide multiple levels of support at different stages – including vocational training for women over the age of sixteen (16) wishing to start their own business. , financial assistance to struggling businesses, advice to established women-centered businesses to strengthen their operational capacity, and training for financial institutions on inclusive programs.
In his remarks, Minister Hamilton praised the long relationship with Taiwan which has led to the realization of the women’s empowerment project and said that the Federation does indeed have “a friend – in the Republic of China in Taiwan”.
“Today marks the signing of an agreement between our two countries for the execution of a program of assistance and economic empowerment of women as part of a post-pandemic measure. This project will provide technical assistance and financial assistance to women, including women entrepreneurs, ”he said, noting that the project came at the right time, as women were the heads of many households in the Federation and continued to be severely affected by the pandemic despite the stimulus measures. assistance provided by the government, and that training and financial support would help them weather the economic storms of the pandemic.
The signing of the implementation agreement took place in view of several participants, including officials from the Ministry of Social Development and Gender and the Trade and Small Business Development sectors in St. Kitts, as well as representatives of the Taiwanese Embassy.
Women from across the Federation are invited to participate in this US $ 2.1 million program, which will run until December 2022. Further information on the project, including registration details, will be announced under little.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
