TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) completed a visit to the Marshall Islands as the special envoy of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday.

During his April 7-9 stay with a trade delegation, Lin signed a letter of intent to establish an economic and resilience fund, the ministry said in a statement. The fund is designed to help local enterprises expand their markets.

The minister also attended a meeting to discuss the promotion of bilateral trade and investment after last year’s signing of an Economic Cooperation Agreement. At an investment promotion meeting, Lin announced that Taiwan will continue to support the empowerment of women in the Marshall Islands by improving conditions for women entrepreneurs.

The visit also included tours of a pier and of the state-owned Tobolar oil refinery, and visits to islands near the capital Majuro to assess the potential for tourism and fishing. Lin also attended a ceremony at the Majuro Track and Field Stadium, a project completed with assistance from Taiwan. A made-in-Taiwan drone showered the attendants with confetti to applause from the crowds, the ministry said.

Lin said his visit to the Marshall Islands showed Taiwan’s efforts to rally the private and public sectors to help the development of its diplomatic allies. Efforts would continue to foster clean energy, sustainable tourism, education, sports, agriculture, and healthcare, Lin said.