On the afternoon of March 6, President Ma Ying-jeou attended a reception sponsored by Taiwan's seven major commerce and industry associations to mark the beginning of the new lunar year. The event was organized by the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (TEEMA). The president expressed his best wishes to those attending the event from the various associations and also wished a happy, healthy, and prosperous year to the public in general.
In remarks, President Ma stated that the European debt crisis of the past few years has triggered a global economic slowdown that has dealt a blow to Taiwan's exports, but that a number of economic indicators fortunately started to turn positive in the fourth quarter of last year. He noted that the Executive Yuan's Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics has even revised this year's projected economic growth rate upward.
President Ma stated that the government last year introduced the Economic Power-Up Plan in order to transform Taiwan's industrial structure from one that is efficiency-driven to one that is innovation-driven. This initiative continues to be carried out to create an optimal environment and to enhance the global competitiveness of Taiwan's small- and medium-sized enterprises, and to ensure that more such enterprises emerge as "hidden champions" in their respective industries, he said, adding that this will enable the government to achieve its objective of promoting economic growth. To date, he noted, the government has already singled out over 70 small- and medium-sized companies that it considers viable candidates for transformation into hidden champions.
The president mentioned that in order to attract Taiwan companies overseas back to Taiwan to invest here, the government is aggressively promoting deregulation and other measures. It aims to create investment-friendly conditions to encourage overseas-based Taiwan-invested firms to come back, he said. At present, over 20 such companies have filed applications to invest here, with the value of that investment at over NT$168 billion. He noted that the government expects these projects to ultimately create over 20,000 jobs here.
With respect to abolishing trade barriers and hastening Taiwan's participation in regional economic integration, President Ma said, the government is proactively engaging with mainland China on follow-up negotiations under the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement on trade in goods and services. Furthermore, he declared, Taiwan and the United States this month will hold a first round of talks under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. It is expected that these negotiations will effectively pinpoint areas for priority consideration, as well as areas in which discussions will be carried out for continued cooperation, he commented. The president remarked that the ROC's negotiations with Singapore and New Zealand on economic cooperation agreements are advancing quite smoothly.
President Ma reiterated that in order to spur rapid economic development, our nation needs to participate in regional economic integration and align itself with the global economy. To achieve those goals, he commented, Taiwan hopes to participate in initiatives such as the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership that is being pushed by the ASEAN nations and mainland China.
With respect to reform of the nation's pension systems, the president stated, consensus is gradually being reached on related issues after over three months of negotiation, communication, and solicitation of public opinion. He expressed hope that related legal amendments will be passed to ensure that Taiwan's pension systems can remain fiscally viable over the next 30 years.
President Ma then turned his attention to the topic of whether construction of the nation's Fourth Nuclear Power Plant should be halted, an issue that is of major concern to the public. He emphasized that the goal of the nation's energy policy continues to be "ensuring nuclear safety, gradually reducing reliance on nuclear power, and creating a green energy and low carbon environment to gradually become a nuclear-free country." The president said the government fully embraces the principle that only after there are no concerns about the safety of the fourth nuclear plant will the facility be commissioned. He stated that impartial professional institutions from both Taiwan and overseas will carry out inspections of the plant in order to effectively alleviate any concerns about nuclear safety among the public.
President Ma expressed praise and support for the recent idea floated by Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) that the issue of nuclear power be decided in a referendum. The president stated that based on the ultimate goal of a "nuclear-free homeland," Taiwan in the future will not make any plans to build a fifth nuclear power plant. However, as to whether construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant should be halted, the president said that this decision has a bearing not only on the plant itself, but also on the safe operation of the nation's existing First, Second, and Third Nuclear Power Plants and whether it is possible to avoid a shortfall of power in the future, power rationing, or a hike in power prices. As a policy issue, this matter has both economic and security ramifications for the nation, he commented.
President Ma reiterated that the government will thoroughly communicate with the public on the matter. It will also provide clear and transparent information with respect to possible substitutes to nuclear power if construction of the fourth plant is halted, the costs and risks to Taiwan, as well as other advantages and disadvantages. He said that the government will provide the public with ample information to understand the impact if construction of the plant is halted, so that everyone can together make this important decision that will have bearing on the nation's future.
Among those attending the event were Premier Jiang, Minister of Economic Affairs Chia-Juch Chang (張家祝), Minister Kuan Chung-ming (管中閔) of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, Chairman Lin Join-sane (林中森) of the Straits Exchange Foundation, and TEEMA Chairman Arthur Yu-cheng Chiao (焦佑鈞).