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President Chen Has Discussions with Industrial Leaders and Think-tank Representatives
2003-05-23

Taipei, May 23 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Friday that the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) should craft a comprehensive plan for promoting more convenient cargo transport services across the Taiwan Strait.

Chen issued the directive at the end of a meeting with senior government officials, business and industry executives, as well as think tank economists, on the possible economic fallout of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) .

After discussions with chiefs of six major local trade associations and economic think tanks, Chen promised to order the MAC and other relevant government agencies to draft a blueprint for such a proposal as soon as possible.

Chen said he is convinced that speedier cross-strait cargo transport services will encourage local companies to keep their business roots at home, facilitate the development of Taiwan into an Asia-Pacific regional operations hub and upgrade the nation's overall competitiveness.

Meanwhile, he said, he has decided to name Vincent Siew, chairman of the Chung-Hua Institute for Economic Research, to head a presidential economic advisory panel.

"At this critical moment in our fight against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) , I hope Siew can offer counseling in the economic and financial fields to help tide our country over the adverse repercussions from SARS," Chen said.

Touching on agricultural development, Chen said the nation should introduce entrepreneurship and modern marketing strategies to cope with the challenges resulting from Taiwan's accession to the World Trade Organization.

Chen said Taiwan should create common brands for locally grown orchids, mangoes and wax apples, which are major cash crops for Taiwan. Moreover, he said, agriculture administrators should help local farmers forge cooperative ties with direct marketing firms, major consumer goods distributors and e-commerce operators to expand sales of their crops.

To spruce up traditional industries, Chen said the Ministry of Economic Affairs should cooperate with the Chung-Hua Institute in conducting a census to sort out those with a competitive edge or development potential for intensive promotion.

Chen expressed hope that the new economic advisory panel will map out concrete measures under Siew's leadership to boost the development of the biotechnological and computer software industries, as well as e-commerce.

To accelerate high-tech industrial development, Chen said, the government is set to organize a world high-tech exposition in 2008 to attract the participation of cutting-edge technology firms from around the globe. The site for the exhibition will be transformed into a research and development hub for foreign high-tech companies, he added.

As the SARS outbreak has dampened private investment and consumption, Chen directed the new economic advisory panel to hammer out a variety of new medium- and long-term public construction projects, such as a mass rapid transport system linking metropolitan Taipei to Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, to rev up the sluggish economy.

During the meeting, Siew delivered a speech titled Taiwan's Economic New Deal. He said Taiwan should draw inspiration from the "New Deal" launched by former U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt during the 1930s economic depression.

In addition to implementing the just-passed SARS-relief budget plan, Siew said, the government should initiate medium- and long-term projects to develop Taiwan into a high-tech and regional operations hub.

Vice President Annette Lu, Premier Yu Shyi-kun, Vice Premier Lin Hsin-i, Secretary-General to the President Chiou I-jen and presidents of six large trade associations and three noted economic think tanks attended the meeting.

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