Monday, November 7, 2022

Washington, DC

DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR COLEMAN: I want to thank and congratulate you on this historic initiative to deepen our work together globally. For years, Taiwan has remained an especially strong partner, leveraging its insights as a former aid recipient and now a leading democracy to support transparent, inclusive, sustainable international development. 

The United States Agency for International Development and the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund are building on that history to increase our development coordination in regions of shared priority, including the Pacific and the Eastern Caribbean. 

We have already seen the power of our partnership to impact real and meaningful change globally. In Papua New Guinea, for example, we leveraged USAID’s technical connections and Taiwan’s state-of-the-art equipment to provide wheelchairs to eleven health clinics across the capital, in coordination with the PNG National Department of Health. 

Moving forward, we will deepen our partnership in the Pacific by supporting civil society organizations and private-sector enterprises to advance locally-designed and -led development solutions that increase resilience and improve the livelihoods of Pacific Island communities impacted by climate change. As USAID expands our presence in Pacific Island countries, we are eager to work with Taiwan to build local capacity and respond to regional development priorities in partner countries.

In the Latin America and Caribbean region, we plan to expand cooperation on humanitarian assistance, building upon joint hurricane response efforts started in 2020. In Saint Lucia, for example, we have linked Taiwan’s investments in technology and infrastructure with USAID’s professional development and digital training skills to enhance communities’ connectivity and opportunities for development. 

Through our expanded partnership, USAID and Taiwan ICDF, under the auspices of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States, will help the Government of Paraguay set up eight Small Business Development Centers to support micro, small, and medium-sized businesses. Together, we are helping to create jobs and bolster local economies.

This is just the beginning. USAID will continue to look to Taiwan to offer the world its invaluable development and humanitarian expertise. Our continued partnership will ensure that today’s development decisions help advance the long-term success of counterparts around the world for years to come. Thank you.

Isobel Coleman
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