Vice Premier Mao Chi-kuo today pledged that the ROC government will devote every effort to protecting the interests of Taiwanese companies that suffered losses in the recent riots in Vietnam.
At the fifth meeting of the Executive Yuan response task force on the riots, the vice premier, who also doubles as the group's convener, asked various agencies to unite their efforts and verify the principles of each response measure with Vietnam's central and local authorities. In addition to making specific lists and following up on each item, ROC officials should engage in active negotiations and obtain concrete commitments from the Vietnam side.
The MOEA has formed a second delegation of investment, business and industrial officials and experts to help Taiwanese-owned firms in Vietnam. Members of this delegation will depart on May 26 and, depending on their field of specialty, visit Taiwanese factories in Ho Chi Minh City or Bin Duong or Dong Nai provinces to inspect the damage sustained during the riots and offer recommendations on business rebuilding.
In the short term, the MOEA will ask Vietnamese authorities to establish a designated service window to help Taiwanese companies verify losses, speed up insurance claims processes, simplify procedures and waive tariffs for machine imports, and extend the repayment period on bank loans. For companies that incurred damage, Taiwan will ask Vietnam to provide social insurance payments to cover workers' salaries for the period when operations were suspended, and request that work permit regulations be eased for Taiwanese staff so that companies can resume operations. Taiwanese firms should also receive assistance transferring their production orders to other units to keep business running as usual.
For the medium term, the MOEA will request Vietnam to consider lowering or eliminating taxes for Taiwanese companies, to provide preferential loans as compensation, and to assist Taiwanese firms wishing to withdraw or transfer their investments to other countries.
As for the long term, the ROC will promote a bilateral economic ministerial conference, a bilateral investment agreement and an economic cooperation pact with Vietnam. These efforts aim to deepen trade relations with Vietnam and afford stronger protection for Taiwan's business interests.
During the meeting, the Ministry of Health and Welfare added that it will soon dispatch a team of psychiatrists and professional counselors to Vietnam to work with local religious groups and offer psychological counseling, guidance and support to ROC nationals. If necessary, the team can provide referrals for treatment back in Taiwan.