Bz/Taiwan shrimp farm exports first harvest

Despite all the economic assistance provided to Belize by the government of Taiwan, there has been relatively little real investment by the Taiwanese private sector. One exception to that trend has been the Tao San shrimp farm near Dangriga. On Wednesday, as the company prepared to export its first harvest, Minister of Agriculture Dan Silva and Taiwanese Ambassador Charles Tsai, took a tour of the facility. The operation is a joint venture between Tao San and Belizean Betty Gabourel, who was the owner of the land on which the nine freshwater ponds have been constructed. It is estimated that this harvest will total around 50,000 pounds and the seafood will be sent to Asian markets. The processing of the shrimp for export employs between 60 and 100 Dangriga residents on a seasonal basis.