In a historic milestone for bilateral educational cooperation, 37 nationals from the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis have been awarded Taiwan-funded scholarships to pursue undergraduate and graduate higher education, marking the largest single-year cohort of scholarships Taiwan has ever extended to the Caribbean nation.
The formal award ceremony took place on August 8, 2026, at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, bringing together top leadership from both sides. Attendees included Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew, Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley, Foreign Minister Dr. Denzil Douglas, Nevis Premier Mark Brantley, and Edward Ling-Wen Tao, Taiwan’s resident ambassador to Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Of the 37 awards granted this year, 28 fall under Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Scholarship scheme, while the remaining 9 are funded through Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) program.
Addressing gathered guests and scholarship recipients at the event, Foreign Minister Dr. Douglas framed the record cohort as a defining marker of the deep, long-standing diplomatic ties between the two countries. “Never before in the Federation’s history have we received such a substantial allotment of scholarships from the Republic of China (Taiwan),” he stated, expressing gratitude to Ambassador Tao and the Taiwanese government for opening these educational doors to young Saint Kitts and Nevis nationals.
Dr. Douglas emphasized that these scholarships embody Taiwan’s sustained commitment to investing in human capital development for the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis, while also demonstrating both governments’ shared dedication to expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation. He went on to reaffirm the Saint Kitts and Nevis government’s long-standing commitment to advocating for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in regional and international multilateral forums, and highlighted Taiwan’s outsized contributions to progress across Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
“Taiwan deserves widespread recognition for its herculean work advancing development across small island developing states,” Dr. Douglas said. “Our people have already seen tangible, life-changing benefits from our decades-long partnership with Taiwan.”
Looking ahead to 2027, Dr. Douglas issued a clear signal of the Saint Kitts and Nevis government’s ambition to grow the partnership even further, telling Ambassador Tao, “Be prepared, as we are looking forward to doubling the scholarships for next year.” The announcement confirms the government’s plan to drastically expand access to international educational opportunities for its citizens next year, building on the unprecedented, record-breaking allocation delivered in 2026.