On May 19, 2026, the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines jointly launched the Young Farmers Training Project at the Orange Hill Agricultural Biotechnology Centre. Ambassador Fiona Huei-Chun Fan, on behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan), co-hosted the event with Hon. Dr. Godwin Friday, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
The Project aims to strengthen connections among the government, farmers, and private enterprises, expand agricultural production and marketing supply chains, and further demonstrate the shared vision of Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to deepen agricultural cooperation. To advance these objectives, the Embassy also invited representatives from the SVG Hotel and Tourism Association to participate in the event.
Ambassador Fan emphasized that this year marks the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, noting that both countries are reliable partners and sincere friends. The two countries will continue to cultivate resilience, opportunity, and shared prosperity for future generations. She highlighted that the Government of Taiwan is committed to contributing US$2.5 million to support the 3-year Project, and the initiative will introduce advanced smart agriculture technologies, including plant factories and IoT-based environmental control systems.
As on the same day, Hon. Daniel Cummings, Minister of Health, Wellness, Environmental Health and Energy has just spoken up for Taiwan’s inclusion at the World Health Assembly held in Switzerland, Ambassador Fan also expressed sincere appreciation to the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for its longstanding and steadfast support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
The event highlighted the achievements of smart agriculture technologies implemented with Taiwan’s assistance, including key facilities such as plant factories and the Internet of Things (IoT) system. The use of environmental control technologies in plant factories helps reduce the impact of external climatic conditions on crop production and supports stable and year-round supply of high-quality agricultural produce.
These smart agriculture technologies not only help strengthen the resilience of the agricultural sector in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in response to climate change, but also support the development of more planned, stable, and market-oriented agricultural production.
During the event, the lettuce produced in the plant factory, together with agricultural products cultivated by the young farmers, were showcased and attracted strong interest from representatives of the hotel sector. This strong engagement highlights the potential for smart agriculture to better align agricultural production with the needs of the tourism market, while creating new development opportunities for the local agricultural sector.
The introduction of modern agricultural technologies allows young people to see that agriculture is no longer a traditional labour-intensive industry, but an emerging sector that combines technology, innovation, and entrepreneurial potential. This, in turn, can further encourage youth to participate in agriculture and explore opportunities in agribusiness development.
Hon. Dr. Godwin Friday, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Hon. Israel Bruce, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Transformation, and Hon. Shevern John, Minister of Social Welfare and Community Empowerment, Ecclesiastical Affairs and National Heritage, all expressed their gratitude to Taiwan for the strong and steadfast support. They commended Taiwan’s sharing of agricultural technologies, noting that Taiwan–SVG cooperation will equip young people with practical skills, capacity, and confidence needed to address future challenges.
