Taiwan, SVG Hold First Agricultural Development Forum

• First Agricultural Regional Forum held by Taiwan and St Vincent

The International Cooperation Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) in Taiwan and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and harbor of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines co-organized the Challenges and Responses to Agricultural Development in the Caribbean Forum on 25 and 26 April 2024 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The forum invited high-ranking officers, representatives, and experts from regional countries, international organizations, and the Taiwan Technical Missions in Latin America and the Caribbean region. It was the first ever agricultural forum to be held by Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The purpose of the forum was to explore challenges and agricultural transformation in the Caribbean region. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan, the United States, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Food for the Poor (FFTP), World University Service of Canada, WUSC Caribbean, Caribbean Cooperative MRVHUB, and the Rose Foundation participated in the forum for sharing their experiences and know-how within the field of agricultural development. The Open Ceremony of the forum was co-hosted by Amb. Dr. Charles C. Li, Secretary General from the International

Cooperation and Development Fund in Taiwan, and Hon. Saboto Caesar, Minister of Agriculture of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Exchanges in the two panels “Agricultural Transformation: Integrating Agricultural Technology and Talent Cultivation, and Strengthening the Agricultural Industry Chain” and “Enhancing Agricultural Resilience and Economic Growth through Local Production and Diversified Crops” were lively and productive.

After discussions in the panel, Secretary General Amb. Dr. Charles C. Li held bilateral talks with Regional Representative Mervyn Farroe from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Wed 26^th April, the field visits at the Orange Hill aimed to explore the result and progress of the projects executed by the Taiwan Technical Mission with IICA, USAID, and CARDI.

More than 100 officials, experts, and representatives from regional countries and international organizations as well as agricultural representatives in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines attended the said Forum. The event served as a highly successful platform that allows countries and international organizations to exchange experiences and foster capacity for the Caribbean region. In the years to come, Taiwan will keep working with its diplomatic allies and like-minded countries in domains such as agricultural development, talent cultivation, public health, ICT, infrastructure for the development of the Caribbean countries.