Taipei, July 20 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Sunday that a special government budget for public construction projects to be carried out over the next three years will be increased from NT$300 billion (US$8.6 billion) to NT$500 billion in a bid to stimulate the economy.
Chen made the remarks while conducting an inspection tour of the Kaohsiung-Pingtung section of the second freeway in southern Taiwan, which is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
The president said that his administration has been doing everything possible to promote various infrastructure construction projects, such as the Taipei-Ilan Freeway and the Suao-Hualien Freeway, which are scheduled to start by the end of this year and in early next year, respectively.
Describing Pingtung County as being an important tourist spot, Chen said that the central government will continue to cooperate with the county government to attract foreign tourists.