Belmopan, September 30, 2025.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture, and Immigration (MFAFTCI), in partnership with the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF) and Home of Indigenous Arts Belize Limited, successfully implemented Phase Two of the Advanced Product Development and Design Project. Through this vocational training project, indigenous women artisans in southern Belize were empowered to strengthen their traditional crafting skills, enhance their entrepreneurial capacity, and expand the quality and diversity of their production.
The project concluded on September 29, 2025, with a certification award ceremony and the launch of an exhibition to showcase the stories, skills, and products created by the women participants. The exhibition will remain open to the public, schools, and other interested visitors until October 30, 2025.
The event marked a significant milestone in southern Belize, empowering women to achieve financial independence by supporting twenty-two artisans from the communities of Mabil Ha, San Lucas, Aquacate, Mafredi, Santa Cruz, San Pedro Columbia, San Felipe, and Punta Gorda Town in the Toledo District.
The MFAFTCI expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for their steadfast partnership and commitment to empowering women towards greater independence.
The ceremony was attended by H.E. Lily Li-Wen Hsu, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize; Dr. the Hon. Osmond Martinez, Minister of State, Ministry of Economic Transformation; Ms Seidy Quetzal, Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture, and Immigration; Chief Andrew Su of Taiwan Technical Mission; Mr. Gustavo Requena, Director of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Ministry of Indigenous, Constitutional and Religious Affairs, and Transportation; Ms. Jill Cai, Manager, Women Empowerment Project, Taiwan Technical Mission.
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