Premier Jiang Yi-huah today helped businesses resolve the problems they are facing at a symposium on the development of free economic pilot zones (FEPZ). The meeting was held at Tonglit Logistics Co., Ltd. in the Port of Taipei, a free trade zone.
The premier expressed his hope that the country's five free trade ports—Port of Kaohsiung, Port of Taichung, Port of Keelung, Port of Taipei and Su-ao Port—and Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport will attract even more industrial activity and value-added production after they are transformed into the nation's first FEPZs.
The initial focus of the FEPZ policy is development of four promising industries: intelligent logistics, international medical services, value-added agriculture and industrial cooperation. However, the FEPZs will not be limited to these activities, Jiang indicated.
"The government will keep analyzing Taiwanese businesses' competitiveness and work out similar flagship programs to realize its vision of the next stage of Taiwan's economic development," he said. "We will do whatever we can to promote Taiwan's economic development, facilitate industrial transformation, increase added value, create more jobs and raise wages."
The Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) started developing the FEPZ project, a major part of President Ma Ying-jeou's 2012 campaign platform, during former Premier Sean Chen's term in office, Premier Jiang said. "After succeeding Premier Chen in February of this year, I immediately instructed CEPD Minister Kuan Chung-ming to fast-track the planning. In March, the CEPD worked out a blueprint, the details of which are expected to be completed by June."
The current free trade ports will serve as the base of the first phase of FEPZ development, as the industrial deregulation needed for FEPZs will require legislative action, and the ports, administered by the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), already have more FEPZ-friendly policies. "This gradual approach is proactive and practical," Jiang said.
The promotion of the FEPZ project requires assistance from the Legislature and various agencies as well as the cooperation of central and local governments, indicated Premier Jiang. He instructed the CEPD, Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and MOTC to solicit opinions from related businesses to ensure the project's practicality and sustainability.
Responding to businesses' hope that the government can set up a single window for resolving the problems they encounter during the project, the premier said that while the MOEA has established such a window, he is considering raising its status to the Yuan level as many of their issues are of a cross-agency nature.
The government will not wait until special legislation is ratified to launch the FEPZ project, Jiang assured. He thanked the businesses for their support and encouraged them to work together with the government and offer it creative ideas for initiatives.