President Chen Shui-bian said that, for the next few years, the government will increase the investment in agriculture, expedite the adjustment of the agricultural-industrial structure, and enhance international marketing strategies for Taiwan's agricultural products.
The president made the announcement when meeting with the winners of the "2006 Shennong Award" on May 25 at the Office of the President. These policies, according to him, aim to transform Taiwan's agriculture from a domestic consumption-oriented and protected industry to an open and competitive one.
In the meeting, the president told his guests that the Executive Yuan has formulated a policy for economic development that will "richly cultivate Taiwan while reaching out to the world"--a strategy that will strengthen Taiwan's economic reform, promote its industrial transformation, and ensure its competitiveness in sustainable development.
To carry on the spirit of Shennong, the Divine Farmer in Chinese mythology, the Shennong Award is dedicated to the outstanding farmers in Taiwan. In their meeting, the president congratulated this year's award winners and wished them greater success in the future.