Robin G. Mahood, President of Food For the Poor (FFP), praised Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) for its expertise in helping developing countries such as Haiti and Nicaragua, while expressing desire to do more business with Taiwanese enterprises.

"The donation of rice was a tremendous gift and blessing," said Mahood, of Taiwan's donation to Haiti. He also lauded ICDF members for providing practical expertise in agriculture.

"We saw the results of ICDF's [plantation] of guavas and papaya and small tomatoes. It was exceptionally successful and the results were excellent," said Angel A. Aloma, executive director of FFP, of ICDF's work in Nicaragua.

Furthermore, Aloma emphasized that ICDF members were successful in motivating locals to work, "giving them something a step above poverty that will last them a lifetime."

FFP and ICDF have worked together to form aid programs in Haiti, Nicaragua, El Salvador,the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Honduras, countries that are political allies of Taiwan.

Mahood described future projects FFP envisions with Taiwanese enterprises, such as purchasing products in the solar energy industry in order to provide for places that lack electricity and clean water.

"We're interested in all kinds of solar work; inside homes, for villages with no electricity, and solar pumps for water." Mahood said, "Most importantly, clean water to use."

Aloma emphasized that the administrative cost ratio of FFP is less than three percent, which meant that over 97 percent of all donations go to programs that help the poor. "We will accept help from anyone and we will give help to everyone," he added.

FFP was named the fourth largest private charity organization by Forbes Magazine and has donated more than US$1.51 billion in 2008 to the Central American and the Caribbean countries.

According to their official website, FFP ministers to impoverished people throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Established in 1982, their goals include improving the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the men, women and children everywhere.