At the second meeting of the Executive Yuan's youth advisory group today, Premier Jiang Yi-huah encouraged the young advisors to contribute their innovation and smarts to the administration and to continue invigorating society with their positive energy.
Premier Jiang convened the meeting and thanked the advisors for their enthusiastic proposals and valuable suggestions. The group has been interacting closely with different ministries and coming up with many exciting ideas that will bring positive influence to the government, he added.
During the youth advisory group's first meeting, which took place on July 22 this year, members discussed how the group should operate in the coming year and exchanged views on various policy matters of concern. The premier expressed appreciation to the group's deputy convener, Minister without Portfolio Feng Yen, for helping to divide the group into smaller panels and for coordinating their proposals.
"Young people are the future of the nation. I hope more of our youth will voice their opinions and even participate in the political process to help drive the government forward," Jiang said.
Twenty-one advisors were present at today's meeting, during which the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and the Ministry of Labor reported on their respective programs for promoting young entrepreneurship and youth employment. The young advisors also presented three proposals regarding youth entrepreneurship and employment, consolidation and use of idle public spaces, and bringing overseas professionals back to Taiwan.
Regarding a friendly environment for young entrepreneurs, Premier Jiang asked the MOEA to work with local authorities and industrial development committees to establish information platforms that match young entrepreneurs to the startup resources and essential information they need. The MOEA should also encourage local governments and institutions to build more exchanges between government officials and young businesspeople. Currently Taipei City has devoted considerable resources to setting up entrepreneur support groups, and other cities and counties should also follow suit, Jiang said.
Concerning the management of idle public spaces, the premier directed the Public Construction Commission (PCC) to comb through government databases and take a complete inventory of underused public spaces across Taiwan. Many of these community centers or activity venues may, aside from fulfilling their intended functions, be used for other purposes as well. The premier also agreed that privately owned idle spaces can similarly be put to better use. He directed the PCC to research and coordinate the utilization of such facilities with the private sector.
As for increasing the pool of talent in Taiwan, Premier Jiang asked the Ministry of the Interior to quickly ease immigration regulations in order to attract overseas talent and build a friendlier environment for foreign workers. Jiang also directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other related agencies to use their offices abroad to attract overseas talent, encourage Taiwanese professionals to come home, and woo foreign companies to invest in Taiwan.
Since the youth advisory group held its first official meeting in July, its various panels have worked with competent authorities and come up with seven proposals as follows:
- Postponing the schedule of the Comprehensive Assessment Program for junior high school students entering high school.
- Increasing incentives for teachers in outlying islands and remote areas.
- Allowing young men to start new businesses as a substitute for military service.
- Making better use of idle public spaces and providing affordable homes for young people.
- Including knowledge of railway emergency buttons into driver's license road tests for motorcycles and automobiles.
- Permitting Cambodian nationals to apply for entry visas at the MOFA's domestic offices.
- Upgrading the "Internet of Things" industries and integrating relevant resources.
At today's meeting, representatives from government agencies exchanged views with the youth advisors and explained their current and planned measures as relating to these proposals. Premier Jiang also asked agencies to invite youth advisors to participate in the planning of future policies.