Taipei, Feb. 13 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian trumpeted his administration's economic performance last year and portrayed a rosy outlook to a group of industrial and business leaders Thursday.
In a social gathering with the country's business and industrial leaders, Chen noted that the country's worried business leaders presented him at a similar gathering last year with a letter recommending ways to boost the economy. He added that the economic growth of 3.27 percent in 2002 was better than expected.
The coming year is sure to be better still, according to the president, who listed the many extraordinary measures taken by his administration to improve the business environment and added that 96 percent of the proposals put forward by the 2001 Economic Development Advisory Conference have been implemented.
Without citing his sources, the president claimed that Taiwan ranks third in the world in terms of growth competitiveness and he said his administration will organize an international conference to tout the island's competitive edge and solicit investment from overseas.
Chen said his administration is trying to persuade the legislature to hike the legal ceiling on the government's ability to raise loans, in the hope of funnelling at least NT$1.2 trillion per year into public projects for the next five years.