Taipei, Nov. 13 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian hailed Thursday the outstanding academic performance and achievements of the Taiwan-American Biotech Association and encouraged the group to help boost two-way exchanges and assist Taiwan in playing a bigger role in related fields on the world stage.
Chen made the remarks during a meeting with 18 members of the group who come from the academic, venture investment and medical sectors, both in Taiwan and the United States.
Stating that biotechnology is one of the key sectors covered by the government's flagship "two-trillion, two-star" program worth trillions of dollars to promote Taiwan's promising hi-tech and value-added industries, Chen said the Executive Yuan has appointed various locales around the country for the setting up of special parks to develop biotechnology for horticulture.
For instance, an agricultural-biotech park in southern Pingtung County, a flower park in central Changhua County and an orchid park in southern Tainan County are being mulled by the Executive Yuan, Chen said.
According to the president, northern Hsinchu County has applied to establish a biotech-medical industrial park, while eastern Ilan County and southern Chiayi County have also put forward plans to open an ocean park and a special herb zone, respectively.
The Taiwan-American Biotech Association was set up in January 2002 by a group of biotechnology experts from Taiwan residing in southern California.