Premier Jiang Yi-huah today encouraged bicycle businesses to work with the government to make their product a well-known Taiwanese brand, such that "whenever people think of bicycles, they think of Taiwan."
"The bicycle industry not only creates employment opportunities but also raises quality of life by altering people's life habits and cities' images and producing cultural change," he said.
The premier made these remarks during a visit to world-leading bicycle producer Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Central Taiwan is a bicycle headquarters and major supplier that has developed high-quality products in recent years, the premier noted. The nation's annual exports of the product have reached US$2.7 billion and are a strong source of foreign exchange, and the Giant Global Group in particular sells over six million bicycles and earns more than NT$50 billion (US$1.7 billion) in revenues per year.
"I live near a riverside park, and while walking there, I've realized that cycling lovers are as numerous as baseball and railroad fans. Though many people take mass public transportation to work, whenever they're free they get on a bike. This is a very good culture," he remarked.
"I've ridden bicycles since I was small, and my family members use them to get around. Cycling is not only a daily transportation tool; it's also an essential life memory. I've personally taught two children how to ride bicycles, and I rode bikes while studying abroad, as well."
The premier added that he deeply admires Giant CEO King Liu for riding a bicycle around Taiwan at the age of 73 and dreams of making the same trip himself some day.
Afterward, Jiang visited Dajia Youth Industrial Service Park Center, where he heard central Taiwanese industry representatives' suggestions about economic and industrial development, free trade agreement (FTA) promotion and talent training.
During the seminar, the premier reiterated the great importance the government plays in promoting on FTAs. "Our nation currently lags behind South Korea in FTAs, so its globalization and liberalization must be accelerated. Every sector has to build consensus in order to integrate with the global free market and demonstrate the nation's commitment to globalization; otherwise it will be marginalized."
In response to the statements of certain industry representatives that they are facing shortages of basic-level labor, the premier pledged the government would quickly draft demographic policy adjustments to remedy the issue, including amendments to immigration and foreign labor recruitment regulations such as permitting more ethnic Chinese students from abroad to remain in Taiwan after graduation.
Officials accompanying the premier today included Executive Yuan Spokesperson Cheng Li-wun; Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Francis Kuo-hsin Liang; Research, Development and Evaluation Commission Deputy Minister Tai Hao-chun; Ministry of Transportation and Communications Tourism Bureau Deputy Director-General Liu Hsi-lin and Ministry of Education Department of Technological and Vocational Education Deputy Director-General Rao Bang-an.