Goto Main Content
:::

Select Folders:

Article Content

1.Signed on November 8, 2010; Entered into Force on November 8, 2010.
 
The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the
Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (hereinafter
referred to as the “ Parties ” );

Desiring to strengthen the existing cordial relations and to
promote cooperation in the area of information and communication
technology (ICT); Have agreed as follows:

Article 1 Objectives
The Parties recognize the importance of utilizing ICT to enhance
government efficiency, to improve people competitiveness and to
further advance national sustainable development. Under this
common understanding, the Parties will cooperate in ICT, with
the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) applying its
advanced ICT abilities to assist the Government of St. Vincent
and the Grenadines in promoting the level of digitalization and
in establishing an information society.

Article 2 Scope of Agreement
This Agreement establishes a basic framework within which the
Parties agree to cooperate in the field of ICT to achieve the
stated objectives. This Agreement also defines: the areas of
cooperation; the institutional aspects of the partnership; the
content of the initial project; a structure for future
cooperation; and general conditions that shall govern the
projects under this Agreement.

Article 3 Areas of Cooperation
The Parties have identified the following areas of cooperation
in ICT:
I. E-Government and E-Governance: These are the main priorities.
The ICT cooperative projects for the public sector shall be
planned and implemented by taking into consideration the
needs of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Related policy consultation and assistance in formulating
corresponding laws and regulations will also be provided.
II. E-Industry: In the process of promoting the aforementioned
cooperation in the public sector, assisting the private
sector to embark on e-industry shall be done in accordance
with the industrial and economic development policies
established by the Government of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines.
III. ICT Capacity Building and Training:
ICT education and training related to the above-mentioned
areas of cooperation shall be conducted to improve the
quality of human resources and increase the pool of skilled
labor.

Article 4 Initial Project
The Parties shall commence their cooperation on the following
Initial Project:
I. Project Content
i. Establishment of the Information and Communication Technology
Center (hereinafter referred to as the “ ICT Center ” ):
The ICT Center shall be established within the territory of
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which shall include the
complete planning and installation of all hardware and
software systems.
ii. Installation and optimization of the government web portal
for the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
iii. Development and installation of application systems for the
departments and agencies of the Government of St. Vincent
and the Grena dines:
The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) shall be
responsible for developing applications software and
assisting with system installation.
iv. Cultivation of human resources: Necessary education and
training shall be provided according to the three items
mentioned in the project contents above.
The content of the Initial Project shall be adjusted flexibly
depending on actual progress and disbursement of funds.
II. Executive Unit
The Initial Project shall be carried out by the
International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF)
as commissioned by the Government of the Republic of China
(Taiwan), and shall be supervised by the Embassy of the
Republic of China (Taiwan), Kingstown, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
shall designate a department as a supporting executive unit
to facilitate the progress of the various project tasks.

Article 5 Future Projects
I. Other than the Initial Project clearly outlined in this
Agreement, the Parties will discuss possible future projects
by means of non-scheduled dialogues at different levels.
II. Any subsequent agreement that is required for a future
project shall be done by an exchange of letters detailing
the project conditions and obligations of the Parties. The
terms concerning rights and obligations set out in this
Agreement shall apply to the said future projects.

Article 6 Obligations of the Parties
I. The Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) shall:
i. Dispatch long- and short-term ICT experts and technicians in
ICT (hereinafter referred to as the “ Project Personnel ” )
to St. Vincent and the Grenadines to carry out the described
objectives.
ii. Defray the international travel costs of the Project
Personnel between the Republic of China (Taiwan) and St.
Vincent and the Grenadines.
iii. Pay the Project Personnel salaries and allowances during
their service in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
iv. Pay the insurance and medical care expenses of the Project
Personnel during their service in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines.
v. Provide and ship all computers, computer software and
peripherals required to the ICT Center.
vi. Defray one time renovation costs of the ICT Center.
II. The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines shall:
i. Provide the ICT Center with buildings and infrastructure
(including essential utilities and communications equipment),
and be responsible for their maintenance.
ii. Provide the ICT Center with security guards and related
resources, and adopt all possible measures to ensure the
personal safety of the Project Personnel during their
service.
iii. Defray the administrative costs necessary for the operation
of the ICT Center (e.g. utility and communication bills).
iv. Provide the Project Personnel with dormitories or housing
complete with essential utilities, communications equipment
and furniture. Utility and communication bills shall be paid
by the occupants.
v. Issue appropriate personal identification to the Project
Personnel to facilitate their work.
vi. Provide the Project Personnel with emergency medical care
and first aid.
vii. Provide the human and material resources essential to
assist with the project implementation.

Article 7 Exemption
The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines shall grant the
following favorable treatment during the implementation of
projects under this Agreement:
I. Exemption from customs duties, taxes and other charges on all
equipment, materials and supplies imported into St. Vincent
and the Grenadines for the projects.
II. Convenience for the Project Personnel ’ s entry to,
departure from, and stay in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
during their service, and exemption from customs duties,
taxes and other charges on their personal and household
effects brought into St. Vincent and the Grenadines within
six months of first arrival for their own use.
III. Exemption from customs duties, taxes and other charges on
vehicles for the Project Personnel ’ s own personal use
(one vehicle per person), and exemption from all applicable
taxes in cases where the possession of vehicles is
transferred between Project Personnel.
IV. Exemption from income tax and other charges on the salaries
and allowances earned from abroad by the Project Personnel
for work related to the project during their service in St.
Vincent and the Grenadines.
V. Granting of privileges, exemptions and other treatment to the
Project Personnel and their properties no less favorable than
that accorded to personnel of other international missions
residing and performing similar activities in the territory
of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Article 8 Disposal of Project Income
The income generated from projects under this Agreement shall be
jointly owned by the Parties, and may be deposited in a specific
account approved by the Parties. The handling of the account
will be in compliance with the management rules and regulations
drawn up by the Parties. The income generated from projects,
apart from being used to supplement existing projects, may be
used flexibly for the development of new projects as agreed by
the Parties.

Article 9 Confidentiality
The personnel appointed by either party to participate in the
projects under this Agreement shall not disclose any information
relating to such projects without the prior written approval of
the other party.

Article 10 Restrictions on Use of Information
The dissemination and utilization of information, and management
and exercise of intellectual property rights, related to the
projects under this Agreement, shall be governed by separate
agreements.

Article 11 Notification
The Parties shall exchange contact lists in order that the
Parties can communicate on important matters and deliver
information with respect to this Agreement accordingly. Either
party shall inform the other party with a written notice in the
event that any changes to the list are made.

Article 12 Term and Extension
This Agreement shall enter into force on the date of signature
and remain effective for five years. The Parties shall review
the performance of projects under this Agreement one year prior
to the expiration date and decide whether to extend the duration
of this Agreement pursuant to the results of the review. The
extension of this Agreement shall be done by the mutual written
consent of the Parties.

Article 13 Amendments
Any amendment or revision to this Agreement shall be done by the
mutual written consent of the Parties.

Article 14 Termination
I. Either party may terminate this Agreement by giving prior
written notice to the other party; however, the Parties shall
attempt to reach an agreement on the termination date,
thereby allowing the smooth transition of the project
termination and the recall of the Project Personnel.
II. The confidentiality obligation of this Agreement shall not
become invalid following either the termination or expiry of
this Agreement.

Article 15 Other Provisions
All disputes arising out of or in connection with this
Agreement, or matters not being included in this Agreement,
shall be settled or negotiated by the Parties in good faith.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being duly authorized
thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this
Agreement.

Done in duplicate in the Chinese and English languages, both
texts being equally authentic, in Kingstown on the eighth day of
the eleventh month of the ninety-ninth year of the Republic of
China (Taiwan), corresponding to the eighth day of the eleventh
month of the year two thousand and ten of the Gregorian
calendar.

For the Government of For the Government of
the Republic of China St. Vincent and the
(Taiwan) Grenadines
施文斌 Jerrol Thompson