It is really my pleasure to join the opening ceremony of 5th Taipei Aerospace Technology Exhibition and Taipei International Conference on Aerospace and Airlines Industry. In the position of government, I am proud to say "Welcome to TATE 99" to all attendants from around the world. By the way, I am also willing to express "Welcome" to our domestic industries, visitors and friends.
Strengthening industrial development, promoting economic activity and improving the living standard of people are always the major duties of government. Therefore, encouraged the new industrial sectors to move toward high-tech and high value-added products, which lead to the core of industry. In 1991, Taiwan government chose 10 potential industries according to the principle of "2 great size; 2 high; 2 low". Those meant great size of potential market; great size of relative industry; high valued-added; high technical level; low industrial pollution and low dependent on energy.
The aerospace industry is one of the 10 potential industries. The aviation and space industry development program, which has been published by Executive Yuan since 1991, instructed all units from Ministry of Economic Affairs to push Taiwan Aerospace Industries to become a significant position in the world. There already have 75 domestic companies involved in aerospace business right now. The goal of production value will be projected to reach 2.17 billion US dollars this year. In the mean time, Taipei International Conference on Aerospace and Airlines Industries has been held biennially since 1991. The global aerospace industries were invited to attend this exhibition.
Asia financial crisis occurred from the middle of 1997, which let the operation revenue of Asia airlines declining sharply. Currency devaluation also caused of high charge for buying airplane, more fuel fee and increasing maintenance cost. But right now, the figures of air passenger` air cargo transportation and fleets of airline show steady growth up. The resurgence of the global aerospace industry comes with the region's economic recovery. However, North America and Asia will rebound to become the top-growing regions and each will share one-third of market after year 2000. With our excellent geographic location and rapidly changeable economic situation will form the industrial cornerstone of Taiwan in 21st century. In the beginning of 1995, published by Executive Yuan, an agenda was set to develop Taiwan into an "Asia-Pacific Aircraft Manufacturing & Repair Center". To combine maintenance' manufacture and aerospace business will be our further development strategies of aviation and space industry. After some years of efforts, there have had several successful cases, such as B-717 empennage program between AIDC & Boeing' S-92 helicopter manufacture program between AIDC & Sikorsky, which all receive great assessment from original company. To facilitate international industrial cooperation planning and executive military aircraft contract repair policy will also prompt our value-added profucts in aerospace industry.
The aerospace industries in Taiwan have to compete with major foreign aerospace companies that have had an excellent foundation and well supported from government compensation. In order to avoid running risks, domestic companies should cooperate together to develop business as well as the strategic assistance from government.
Military airplanes were the earliest aerospace industries in Taiwan and major works were focused on maintenance. AIDC, previously known as the Aero Industry Development Center under Chung Shan Institute of Science and Technology, was established on January 1, 1969. CSIST concentrated in R&D of modern hig-tech weapon systems for combat use and national security. There were several fighters, military transportation airplanes that had been designed and produced by AIDC. Recent undertakings include the most famous Indigenous Defense Figfter (IDF) and other productions. To meet the aerospace industry development objectives of the R.O.C. government, AIDC has undergone extensive reorganization under the authority of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The transition has enabled AIDC to aggressively pursue extensive business opportunities with foreign aerospace manufacturers. With previous government support, AIDC has accumulated experience, advanced facilities and unique capacities in aircraft development and production. The relevant regulatory regimes are being actively revised and amended in order to provide the manufacturing sector with a free and efficient environment that encourages investment and development. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has been working actively to carry out aerospace development to develop Taiwan as an Asia-Pacific Regional Operation & Manufacturing & Repair Center. The resurgence of the aerospace industry comes with the region's recovery from the recent economic downturn in Asia. All companies are waiting for flourish business orders that will be coming soon.
The Taipei Aerospace Exhibition provides a great commercial meeting for our domestic aerospace industries before the end of 20th century. 42 international companies, 55 domestic companies join this show. These 97 companies include such as AIDC, Taiwan Aerospace Corporation, & Chenfeng Machinery Enterprise co., Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Electric Aircraft Engine Co., Dassault Aviation, etc. Besides, the National Space Program Office (NSPO) authorized to integrate the test of earth-orbiting satellite systems and succeeded in the first satellite launch for Taiwan last year. Including Chinese Air Force Academy, Tam Kang University, Feng Chia University, Cheng Kung University, Kao Yuan Institute to Technology, Hu Wei Institute of Technology… total 13 academic units join this show. We hope to see that Taipei aerospace exhibition will become more and more important in the future.
Your attendance will make the exhibition more successful. I hope that domestic and international industries can take advantage of opportunities during the conference and exhibition. Thank you and wish you good health and every success to your future endeavor.