Hualien, Taiwan, March 21 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday he regrets that government red tape has become one of the major obstacles to private investment in Taiwan.
Chen made the remarks during an inspection tour of the eastern Taiwan county of Hualien. After learning of the circuitous administrative procedures needed to secure a license to construct an ocean park in Hualien, Chen said the government must cut red tape and improve operational efficiency to facilitate private investment at home.
"The government must push for administrative reforms and take the initiative to help rivate enterprises by removing investment obstacles in order to find a new lease of life for our sluggish economy," Chen said, adding that he will direct the Council for Eonomic Planning and Development to hammer out a comprehensive package for simplifying domestic investment procedures.
Chen stressed that all civil servants at both central and local levels must gear up to assist private businesses in launching new ventures in Taiwan to honor his administration's pledge to make "investment, economy and Taiwan's well-being" the "three firsts" on its work agenda.
He went on to say that he is pleased to see the construction of the sprawling ocean park in scenic Hualien County, which is scheduled to be completed by July 2002. Noting that Taiwan is an island nation, Chen said it would be "weird" if it does not have a well-designed ocean park.
Earlier in the day, Chen inspected a Hualien airport terminal expansion project. The president said the project marks an important step for the development of Hualien into a major tourist destination in the Asia-Pacific region and even the world.
Noting that Hualien is proud of tourist resources, including the renowned Taroko National Park, Chen said the government is determined to expand the Hualien air terminal into an international airport to facilitate the development of the tourist industry in eastern Taiwan.