On Saturday, August 8, 2026, the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) hosted the official 2026 MOFA and ICDF Taiwanese Scholarships Awarding Ceremony at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort. The event marked a monumental milestone in bilateral relations, celebrating a historic cohort of 37 Kittitian and Nevisian students awarded full scholarships to pursue tertiary education in Taiwan.
The ceremony brought together top state dignitaries, including Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Denzil Douglas, Nevis Premier Mark Brantley, and Resident Ambassador of Taiwan His Excellency Edward Tao, alongside senior government officials, proud families, and scholarship awardees.
Delivering his opening address, Ambassador Edward Tao highlighted the unprecedented growth of the scholarship initiative, pointing out that this year’s cohort represents an impressive increase of nine awards over last year—setting a new benchmark in human resource cooperation.
Emphasizing the immediate impact on the Federation’s capacity building, Ambassador Tao expressed special pride that nineteen of this year's 37 recipients are active public servants - including two nurses, a JNF General Hospital technician, a high school principal, two education officers, a diplomat, and an officer from the Nevis Disaster Management Department.
Addressing the students directly, Ambassador Tao encouraged them to pursue academic excellence, embrace new cultural experiences, and serve as proud cultural ambassadors of Saint Kitts and Nevis to Taiwan.
Delivering key remarks at the ceremony, Prime Minister Drew expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Taiwan, praising the island nation as a "real partner" to Saint Kitts and Nevis since 1983.
Prime Minister Drew underscored the broader, tangible benefits of Taiwan’s partnership across key developmental sectors, including healthcare, mental health initiatives, water security, and national infrastructure. He also commended the strong bilateral ties reinforced during his high-level discussions with President Lai Ching-te last year, emphasizing that expanding international educational pathways will build a stronger, more sustainable healthcare workforce for the future of the Federation.
The 2026 scholarship cohort will depart for Taiwan in the coming weeks to begin their academic journeys across various critical disciplines, ranging from engineering and information technology to international business and public health. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of award certificates, official group photography, and a celebratory reception honoring the students and their families.
Photo credits: SKNIS
