Improvements in Hualien's and Taitung's infrastructure such as railways, roads and bicycle paths have facilitated the development of tourism, cultural and creative industries, and regional specialty industries such as organic farming, Premier Mao Chi-kuo stated today.
These industries have helped nurture local talents and attracted private-sector capital and resources. Moreover, production, living and ecology concepts have been incorporated in the promotion of relevant businesses. Concrete results have already been seen in creating jobs and attracting residents back to the region. Mao thanked relevant agencies for their efforts.
The premier made these remarks at today's Cabinet meeting after a briefing by the National Development Council (NDC) on infrastructural accomplishments in Hualien and Taitung. In order to sustain industrial growth momentum, he instructed the NDC to keep up resource integration, capitalize on the region's scenery and cultures, and carry out inter-ministerial and cross-field collaboration to further enhance industrial volume and quality by employing the "six-level" strategy (that is, capitalizing on the region's competitive organic agriculture and fishery industries, as well as developing the cultural and creative industries for value-added collaborative chains in manufacturing, processing, marketing, distribution and sales).
The NDC and other relevant ministries should work hand in hand with the local governments to generate job opportunities and help Hualien and Taitung to keep advancing toward the goal of sustainable development, the premier elaborated.
The NDC stated that a Hualien-Taitung brand will be established to market the region throughout the island and the world, showcasing its strongly competitive industries, efficient public services and outstanding living environments.
The government has invested a huge sum into Hualien-Taitung infrastructure, the NDC pointed out. This in turn has spawned development opportunities that must be gradually bolstered, which would successively attract residents back to the region.
Hualien-Taitung population growth turned positive in 2014. Because the fruits of economic growth have been shared among the local populace, disposable income for the region's average household has increased to approximately NT$740,000 (US$23,771).