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TaiwanICDF Signs Agreements with Belize to Boost Employment and Infrastructure Development
International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) Secretary General Dr. Yu-Lin Huang on March 16 signed loan and coordination agreements for the Program to Improve Labor Force Participation and Employability in Belize.
The agreements were co-signed by Belizean Prime Minister John Briceño and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Group Representative in Belize Karla González at the Office of the Prime Minister. The program will be co-financed by the TaiwanICDF and the IDB to strengthen employment services and expand skills training aligned with the needs of Belize’s priority sectors, thereby increasing the supply of skilled labor.
During the ceremony, Secretary General Huang also signed the loan agreement for the Expansion and Rehabilitation of Philip Goldson Highway Project with Prime Minister Briceño. The signing was witnessed by Jiunsen Huang, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Belize, along with several senior government officials, including Kareem Musa, Minister of Immigration, Labour and Governance; Julius Espat, Minister of Infrastructure Development and Housing; and Carlos Pol, CEO in the Ministry of Economic Transformation.
Belize’s labor market has rebounded rapidly following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, businesses continue to face labor shortages, particularly in higher-skilled and emerging sectors such as tourism, business process outsourcing (BPO), the green and blue economy, and information and communications technology. Over the longer term, these shortages could constrain Belize’s economic growth and development.
The employment program supported by the TaiwanICDF and the IDB will introduce digital tools to strengthen employment services and provide targeted support for groups facing barriers to employment, including women, youth and migrants. It will also deliver demand-driven skills training aligned with employers’ needs. The program is expected to train more than 2,360 individuals and benefit more than 20,000 job seekers.
Speaking at the ceremony, Secretary General Huang said:“By enabling more people to participate in the labor market, this program will help stimulate economic activity in Belize and support its long-term development and inclusive growth.”
The IDB representative expressed sincere gratitude for the collaboration with the TaiwanICDF and the Government of Belize, stating: 'We look forward to the impact this project will have in ensuring that all Belizeans are equipped with the skills, services, and opportunities needed to thrive in a changing economic landscape.
In addition, the Expansion and Rehabilitation of Philip Goldson Highway Project represents the first co-financing partnership between the TaiwanICDF and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) in Belize. The project will improve road safety along the key corridor linking Belize City and the Belize–Mexico border, reduce travel times and upgrade drainage systems to enhance the highway’s resilience to climate change.
Secretary General Huang noted that the two initiatives mark an important milestone in the long-standing partnership between Belize and the TaiwanICDF. Looking ahead, the TaiwanICDF will continue to deepen its collaboration with Belize and development partners such as the IDB, while exploring new areas of cooperation that draw on Taiwan’s industrial strengths in fields such as artificial intelligence infrastructure and smart technologies to support Belize’s sustainable and inclusive development.
Prime Minister John Briceño stated that these two projects reflect the Government of Belize's commitment to strengthening both physical and human infrastructure. On behalf of the government and people of Belize, he expressed gratitude to the TaiwanICDF and Taiwan for their long-standing support of Belize’s development, and conveyed his hope to continue this partnership to build a more connected, resilient, and prosperous Belize.
The TaiwanICDF has long upheld the spirit of 'Steadfast Diplomacy' and the 'Prosperity Partnership Program.' Through partnerships with allied nations and international development banks, we implement concrete and sustainable development projects to help our partner countries enhance economic resilience and improve the well-being of their people. Looking ahead, the TaiwanICDF will continue to leverage Taiwan’s strengths in technology, industry, and human resources training. We will work hand-in-hand with Belize and other like-minded partners to promote further development cooperation, deepen the friendly relations between Taiwan and Belize, and together foster sustainable prosperity across the region.
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- Update: 2026/03/17
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