Taiwan Supports Regional MSME’s
Today, the Republic of China reaffirmed its support for the region’s micro, small and medium enterprises executed by the Center for the Promotion of MSMEs, known as CENPROMYPE. Taiwan signed the first disbursement of a two million U.S.-dollar project. The initiative seeks to promote regional actions that will help to develop the sector through entrepreneurship, business development, improvement of financial environment and knowledge management. The presentation was done via a virtual ceremony with representatives of CENPROMYPE, SICA and the Ambassador of the Republic of China Taiwan in Guatemala. Executive Director of BELTRAIDE, Doctor Leroy Almendarez represented Belize.
Dr. Leroy Almendarez, Executive Director, BELTRAIDE
“The purpose of the meeting this morning is the handing over of the first amount, if you will, of a contribution in the form of a grant from the Republic of Taiwan. So, what they are looking at is to see how they can assist medium, small and micro enterprises because based on COVID-19 and the impact it has had, the economic impact, rather than seeing these enterprises having to close their doors, Taiwan reached out. So, there is a project that will amount to two million U.S. dollars over twenty four months and today the first amount is being handed over of about five hundred thousand U.S. dollars. The beneficiary countries are Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. But our focus will always be to see how we can assist all of the MSMEs. Most of our meetings, now it is being held in Honduras, but to address and see how we can integrate innovation and creativity for the sustainability for these MSMEs because in the region ninety percent of the revenue is generated by these MSMEs. So, this project is very important and there will be an assessment. These projects were already developed and therefore, Taiwan, as a continued supporter of CENPROMYPE and decided to finance this project. This first disbursement will go a long way and we will be looking forward into the future, not too long from now, to see exactly how these monies will be disseminated. But I will tell you that Belize is a big beneficiary through trainings and other initiatives from our membership of CENPROMYPE.”
