TaiwanICDF - TaiwanICDF and St. Lucia Jointly Launch E-Commerce Platform to Boost Youth Entrepreneurship and the Digital Economy

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TaiwanICDF and St. Lucia Jointly Launch E-Commerce Platform to Boost Youth Entrepreneurship and the Digital Economy

The International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) yesterday (8/27) launched an e-commerce platform in collaboration with St. Lucia’s Youth Economy Agency (YEA).

Designed to promote youth entrepreneurship and digital economic development in the Caribbean country, the “YEA E-Commerce Platform” was launched at St. Lucia’s Union Orchid Gardens. Through the platform, young entrepreneurs can establish their own online stores, freely market products, and receive orders anytime online, breaking through the limitations of traditional brick-and-mortar businesses.

Distinguished guests attending the launch ceremony included Ambassador Nicole Su of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to St. Lucia, YEA CEO Bryan Vidal, YEA Board Chairman Thomas Leonce, Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) Leader in St. Lucia Daniel Lee , and TPI Software Vice President Wu Yu-chi, along with 30 local youth entrepreneurs who jointly witnessed this milestone in St. Lucia’s digital development.

In her remarks, Ambassador Su highlighted that e-commerce is an important trend in response to the changing consumer market. She emphasized that the launch of this platform marks the first step for St. Lucian youth and women entering the digital marketplace. “Taiwan is committed to sharing its digital expertise and experience to help young entrepreneurs in St. Lucia expand their presence in local, regional, and even global markets,” she said.

YEA CEO Bryan Vidal underscored that the greatest value of e-commerce lies in its “anytime, anywhere, without boundaries” advantage. The platform lowers the barriers to entrepreneurship, provides data analytics and market insights, and enables youth and women entrepreneurs to compete globally with limited resources. He stressed that, “This is not just a shopping platform—it is a springboard for youth and women to access digital tools, enhance innovation, and realize their entrepreneurial dreams.”

YEA Board Chairman Thomas Leonce added that Taiwan has long supported youth economic development by providing funding, training, and technical assistance, thereby strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in St. Lucia. With Taiwan’s support, YEA has so far issued over 1,500 entrepreneurship grants, totaling nearly EC$8 million, while continuing to provide specialized training in business planning, digital marketing, and AI applications to build entrepreneurial capacity.

TPI Software Vice President Wu Yu-chi also introduced the platform’s technical features during the launch ceremony. He explained that the system allows buyers to easily browse product catalogs and place orders at any time, while sellers can efficiently manage orders, update inventory, and upload product information. Looking ahead, the platform will roll out guest checkout, seller dashboards, customer reviews, and advanced order tracking, as well as a secure online payment system to create a comprehensive e-commerce ecosystem.

According to TaiwanICDF Deputy Secretary General Peifen Hsieh, since the launch of the “Assisting the Economic Empowerment of Youth and Women Project in Latin America and the Caribbean in the Post COVID-19 Era Project” in November 2021, the TTM has promoted business incubation, digital skills development, and job matching, training over 525 young people and women and supporting 640 micro and small enterprises with business consulting services. The YEA E-Commerce Platform will further enhance the visibility and competitiveness of MSMEs and help local youth expand into regional and international markets, she said.

Hsieh further noted that these achievements align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5 (Gender Equality) and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and have been included in St. Lucia’s 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) report submitted to the UN. She emphasized that the TaiwanICDF will continue to deepen digital economic cooperation with St. Lucia, empowering more local youth and women to utilize the e-commerce platform in line with Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung’s Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project, thereby advancing digital empowerment, industrial collaboration, and sustainable prosperity for allied nations.