And after spending her last night raising a toast at that formal dinner in Belize, this morning, President Tsai was at the Biltmore Plaza to oversee the progress that the Women Economic Empowerment Project is making.
The project, which started in 2021, has assisted hundreds of women business owners, and today, a few of them had their products on display at a kind of mini-pop up shop.
Courtney Menzies was there and has this story.
The final event on President Tsai Ing-Wen's agenda was an exhibition full of the products and services from the businesses that form part of the Women Economic Empowerment Project.
These women make everything from hot sauces, to Maya cultural clothing, to lionfish jewelry, juice cleanses, and much more.
This project commenced two years ago and today, President Tsai expressed her excitement at being able to do a walkthrough of all the exhibits.
Dr Tsai Ing-Wen, President, Republic of China (Taiwan)
"Belize is one among many governments around the world prioritizing women's rights. Your efforts toward gender equality, one of the UN's sustainable development goals, are commendable."
"In 2021, Taiwan initiated the Women's Empowerment Project in cooperation with our Latin American and Caribbean partners. Under its framework, Taiwan and Belize have helped women enhance their vocational skills and provided consultation and resources for starting a business. We hope these services will help bring women a step closer to achieving their entrepreneurial ambitions and economic independence."
"To date, the Women's Empowerment Project has helped more than 700 women in Belize enhance their skills or start a business. But these are not just numbers. Behind the statistics are many women, families, and children who have found real support."
"I look forward to seeing these women expand their careers and businesses, and to all women in Belize having greater opportunities to flourish."
And one of the most recent graduates of the program said she went into the food business back in 2014, but it was during the pandemic that her idea for Belizean-made hot sauces took off. And now, because of the program, she's been able to grow as an entrepreneur.
Yssenia Guerra, Owner, Yessi's Cuisine
"Having received positive feedback and reviews from everyone I decided to launch in December, 2021, a line of Belize's finest signature hot sauce born during the Covid 19 lockdown."
"A new journey has begun to which I am proud to say that I have fully embraced the assistance rendered by the Taiwan technical mission in Belize and the Taiwan ICDF. They've helped many other ladies, such as myself through a complete female entrepreneurship program with the aid of Beltraide. [00:03:37.28] Of this training, I am proud."
"This training also helped open new doors to network, and I am proud to say I am in business with fellow entrepreneurs. Preparing myself with an entrepreneur mindset unlocked my learning skills to self-improvement and self-sufficiency as a woman, mother, entrepreneur, and role model."
The project was born out of the pandemic, as a way to assist women-led MSME's bounce back. According to the Special Envoy for Women and Children, since most businesses have a woman at the helm, this project is vital to Belize's economy.
The CEO in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister responsible for Families also commended the assistance that Taiwan has provided for Belize.
Rossana Briceno, Special Envoy For Women & Children
"Through this project, the Government of Taiwan is supporting Belize's response and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on economic growth and sustainability. It is well known that the pandemic affected many Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises, especially women-owned businesses which represent 66% of all businesses operating in Belize. This is why women's empowerment is not only the right thing to do, but it is also good for business; it is a win-win situation for everyone involved."
Amalia Mai, CEO, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
"This project is a testament to your vision to uplift women, not only in Taiwan, but across the global community. Last month, we celebrated Women's Month. But we want to think that this project is a celebration of women all year round because we have been able to show and they have learned very skillfully and very fast how it is to manage their business, how it is to improve their standards, how it is that they can help each other. I think the networking of women that have participated in this project is extremely important because I see in all the projects that we have visited how they come together and they lean on each other and support each other."
Dolores Balderemos Garcia, Minister of Human Dev., Families
"What has struck me the most about our relationship with the people of Taiwan and its government and Madame President is the generosity of the Taiwanese people to help throughout the world people who are more in need and who are looking and craving and yearning for the empowerment in which we improve our families. And by doing so, we improve the world. I am, again, very, very thrilled and grateful that hundreds, literally hundreds of Belizean women have been able to benefit from all of these campaigns and programs for the medium, small and micro enterprises."
And the president explained that the government of Taiwan is also doing its part at home to empower women:
Dr Tsai Ing-Wen, President, Republic of China (Taiwan)
"Like Belize, Taiwan has made binding commitments to address gender equality and women's rights. So today, I would like to take a moment to share some of Taiwan's own progress. From government to business, women are gaining in representation across all sectors in Taiwan. Women now account for more than 40 percent of our national legislators."
And before President Tsai's departure, Minister Balderamos Garcia dedicated a special song for her.
Dolores Balderemos Garcia, Minister of Human Dev., Families
"We cherish the values of democracy, of cooperation, of self-determination. We absolutely cherish those values and because of that, we have a little saying in Belize and it goes like this, President Tsai. You may go, gal, but you must come back."
