At the Cabinet meeting today, Premier Jiang Yi-huah was briefed by the Council of Agriculture (COA) on the current development and future prospects of the agricultural biotechnological park (ABP) in Pingtung County. Premier Jiang remarked that since the park began operation in December 2006, it has grown into a sizeable industrial cluster. After being incorporated into the free economic pilot zones (FEPZs), it is expected to attract manufacturer investments on a larger scale. The premier directed the COA, the National Development Council and other related agencies to continue developing the park's soft and hardware facilities, so that the ABP will transform into a major locomotive for economic growth in the island's southern tip and serve as a core base for value-added agriculture in the FEPZ.
The premier pointed out that the next few years are crucial for development of the ABP and value-added agriculture. He instructed the COA and other agencies to promote ornamental aquaculture and peripheral products, veterinary vaccines, as well as agricultural, fishery and livestock processing. By incorporating the advanced technologies and agricultural products of local farmers, and strengthening cooperation with major foreign enterprises, the COA will be able to open new markets abroad and create more international room for Taiwan's agriculture.
The COA noted that the ABP has gradually grown in scale since it was included into the FEPZ in the latter half of 2013. Looking ahead, the COA will recruit globally competitive enterprises, strengthen the industry, and explore the international market. The park is expected to attract 120 companies by the end of 2017 with total annual revenue projected to soar from NT$4 billion (US$132 million) in 2013 to NT$18 billion (US$594 million) in 2017. As part of the FEPZ's policy of promoting value-added agriculture, the ABP will help bring about a transformation in Taiwan's agricultural industry.