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Foreign aid strengthens diplomatic ties

The budget for Taiwan’s foreign aid will reach NT$17.979 billion (US$594 million) this year, with nearly all of it already committed to diplomatic allies and countries in need, Vice Foreign Minister Yang Tzu-pao (楊子葆) said on Thursday.

“Taiwan’s foreign aid is used mainly to strengthen and expand its diplomatic relations and boost international cooperation,” said Yang at a legislative session where he was briefing lawmakers on the allocation of the country’s foreign aid.

He said Taiwan’s aid projects focused mainly on helping its allies in infrastructure development, deploying agricultural and technical missions to allied countries, providing financial assistance and goods and making loans.

Yang said aid to Central and South American countries (including the Caribbean) would reach NT$10.9 billion, accounting for the bulk of the total, followed by the NT$2.93 billion promised to countries in Africa.

The foreign ministry will also provide NT$2.43 billion in aid to the Asian and Pacific region, NT$58.29 million to North America, NT$27.4 million to Europe and NT$10.5 million to West Asia, Yang said.

Of the NT$17.966 billion in aid that has already been committed, some NT$4.38 billion has been spent up to now, Yang told the legislators.
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