News Release September 24, 2004
For more information, contact: Roy Thomasson at 202/458-3641
Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund Contributes
to Business Information Portal for Young Entrepreneurs
On September 20, 2004 International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) of Taiwan presented a donation to Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) to support YABT’s Internet business information portal for young entrepreneurs. The presentation took place in a meeting at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representation Office (TECRO) in Washington between the Chair of the Board of Directors of YABT, Ambassador Jeanette W. Hyde, and His Excellency Ta-wei Lee, the Representative of Taiwan in the United States.
The YABT InfoBiz project will be a comprehensive web portal for doing business in the Americas with information and contacts on services and resources that will be useful to any company or individual interested in doing business in Latin America and the Caribbean. This includes legal and licensing information, financing, education and training, and associations.
The Young Americas Business Trust will use the contribution to develop the website and to research and develop its network of business resources and information library. As part of this process it will offer memberships and advertising opportunities for companies and services that would be of interest to the wider business community in the Americas, such as the legal profession. As a major sponsor for the project, information will also be included about trade and investment resources and opportunities between Taiwan and the Americas.
The Young Americas Business Trust (YABT) and Taiwan signed a General Cooperation Agreement for young entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean on March 17, 2003. Since then, Taiwan has assisted YABT in building its network of young business leaders and offering training opportunities for young people.
His Excellency Ta-wei Lee, Representative of TECRO in the United States stated: "Taiwan is especially pleased to be part of this important initiative that will link young business people all over the world and in the Americas in particular. We think there is great value in developing the next generation of business leaders and are happy to be part of the network of the Young Americas Business Trust. He added, “Taiwan has always had strong trade relations with the Americas and we think that this support for YABT will strengthen our partnerships.” Thirteen of the thirty-four countries of the Americas recognize Taiwan diplomatically, the largest number of any region in the world.
The Chair of the Board of Directors of the YABT, Ambassador Jeanette W. Hyde has noted, “Through this generous contribution, Taiwan has again demonstrated its willingness to be a strong partner in the development of all of the Americas. It also makes a statement of solidarity with the dreams of young entrepreneurs who the hope and future of the countries of the Americas. Over the past two years the Young America Business Trust has developed a valuable working relationship with the International Cooperation and Development Fund of Taiwan and we look forward to continuing cooperation.”
The Young Americas Business Trust acts as a catalyst for young entrepreneur development through public / private sector partnerships, working with international organizations to increase the resources available for young people to become successful entrepreneurs to combat poverty and create employment for young people. These challenges remain high priorities of the Member States of the Organization of American States.
The International Cooperation and Development Fund (http://www.icdf.org.tw) is Taiwan’s international technical cooperation agency. It has made substantial contributions to its allies and friendly countries, including Member States of the OAS, over the past fifty years and has developed a reputation for excellence in its technical missions in agriculture, humanitarian relief, and exchange of expertise based on the Taiwanese economic success story.
The Young Americas Business Trust (http://www.ybiz.net) is a non-profit corporation affiliated with the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States created in 1999 as follow-up to the Summits of the Americas. It is based at the General Secretariat of the OAS in Washington, DC and recognized as a 501 (c) (3) organization.
This year Taiwan applied to become a Permanent Observer at the OAS in order to facilitate further technical and friendly cooperation with the Americas.