The Foreign Ministry's Central American Trade Office (CATO) hosted a booth at this year’s COMPUTEX, showcasing allied nations’ contributions to the technology sector. The booth highlighted the connections between Taiwan, Guatemala, and Belize, and was especially popular for its “surprising tech facts.”

On Thursday, CATO shared some of these facts on Facebook, showing how both countries have left their mark on tech history. The booth pointed out that Guatemala's Luis von Ahn, the co-founder of the app Duolingo, was also a key developer behind CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA technologies. It also highlighted a Belizean inventor who was deeply involved in developing mobile ringtones.

CATO’s goal is to show that technological innovations don’t only stem from “advanced” countries, but can also come from friendly nations on the other side of the world.

Taiwan has worked closely with allies in digital sectors, and it remains a focus for many of the foreign ministry’s flagship Rongban Plan objectives. In Guatemala, for example, Taiwan has focused on high-tech industries, including semiconductors and ICT security, to implement its “Chip Road” plan, through technical training, sharing expertise, and industrial development.

The ministry has also worked in both Belize and Guatemala to strengthen cybersecurity through the Global Cooperation and Training Framework platform. In May, Taiwan and the United States cohosted an international cybersecurity workshop in Belize on cybersecurity in the age of artificial intelligence.

According to a ministry official, this is Taiwan’s overall comprehensive diplomacy strategy: sharing Taiwan’s expertise, services, and smart solutions with the world.