Taiwan would inject another US$1 million into a start-up loan fund for women in the Marshall Islands and would set up a new fund to support local businesses, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday during a three-day visit to the country.
After arriving on Tuesday as head of a delegation, Lin met with Marshallese President Hilda Heine, who reaffirmed her country's commitment to its longstanding diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the Marshallese government said in a statement.
Heine also emphasized the importance of continued bilateral cooperation based on shared values, mutual respect and a commitment to advancing the well-being of both nations, the statement said.
Photo: Screen grab from Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung’s Facebook page
Lin yesterday chaired the first committee meeting under the Taiwan-Marshall Islands Economic Cooperation Agreement, which was implemented last year.
Later in the day, Lin's delegation — comprising 60 representatives from the shipping, cold-chain logistics, medical equipment, food processing, clean energy, and information and communications technology industries — participated in a forum aimed at boosting business opportunities and bilateral trade relations.
At the forum, Lin announced that Taipei would inject another US$1 million into a fund it has been supporting that provides loans to women in the Marshall Islands to start their own businesses, he wrote on Facebook.
The Taiwan-Marshall Islands Women Business Start-up Small Loan Revolving Fund, also called the Kora Im An Kil Fund, is a joint initiative that was established in 2019.
At that time, Taiwan and the Marshall Islands each contributed US$1 million to the fund to provide loans to female entrepreneurs, in a bid to foster economic empowerment and support small business development in the Pacific nation.
At a dinner on Wednesday, Lin also signed a memorandum of understanding with Marshallese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Kalani Kaneko to establish an "economic resilience loan fund."
The deal is expected to pave the way for a credit guarantee mechanism to help local businesses overcome financing difficulties, expand business opportunities and improve economic resilience, Lin said on Facebook.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS