TAIWAN TO MAKE BELIZE RICE PRODUCING CENTER IN REGION

President Ma of Taiwan says Belize will become a regional dynamo in rice production using industrial equipment with their help. He is very satisfied with the pilot project reports.



Ma hopes to boost Belize agriculture, education
2010/05/20 17:00:37
Taipei, May 20 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou said Thursday that Taiwan hopes to make Belize into a rice production hub in Central America and is considering opening a large vocational training center there.

"The quality of rice cultivated by Taiwan's agricultural technicians in Belize is equal to that of homegrown rice, " Ma told Gaspar Vega, deputy prime minister and minister of natural resources and the environment of Belize, during a meeting at the Presidential Office.

"We have strong confidence that Belize can become a rice cultivation center in the region, supplying its own demand and other countries," Ma said.

Recounting his state visit to Belize last year, Ma said he tasted a Taiwanese dish prepared with rice planted there. "It was as good as in Taiwan," he said.

Ma told reporters he met Vega during his 2009 visit to Belize and that they had discussed agriculture and education.

"Currently, some 80 students from Belize are studying in Taiwan on scholarships provided by the Taiwan government, " the president said.