To get a first-hand understanding of local specialty-industry development, Premier Jiang Yi-huah today visited the 2014 Hsinchu City International Glass Art Festival. At the city's Glass Museum, Jiang stated that by developing regional specialty industries, a local government not only can create jobs for the coming generations and exhibit the aesthetics of the city by making it "shine and glow" but also can attract tourists from home and abroad, bringing the region greater economic prosperity.
Many of Taiwan's industries have been developed by incorporating local talent and regional resources, the premier reiterated. "The outstanding accomplishments of Hsinchu's glass art industry are the results of long-term efforts of the residents, and I hope this tradition will persist and the heritage will be passed on," he said. Jiang also affirmed the Hsinchu City Government for its efforts and persistence over the years in promoting the transformation of traditional industries into cultural and creative ones.
The premier noted that Hsinchu has nearly 300 years of history and was known as Chu Chien (meaning bamboo entrenchment) in olden times. With its possession of silica sand and natural gas resources, the city has laid a firm foundation for the glass industry, and over decades of efforts it has attracted both traditional and modern artists to work there and develop more and more exquisite glass handicrafts.
Although the glass art industry was once on the wane, the infusion of new technology has spurred innovation, and Hsinchu's glass art industry is a great example of this, the premier pointed out.
Jiang also stated that the glass artworks he saw during his visit are not merely traditional artifacts; they are works of art that are infused with literary, history and folk cultural themes. Examples he cited included works depicting local plants or images of Guan Gong (the deified spirit of Guan Yu, a revered historical general and major character of the classic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms). Each of these artworks exhibits the region's cultural characteristics, the premier noted.
The premier also expects central ministries such as the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Economic Affairs to lend a hand to local governments in augmenting regional specialty industries when promoting cultural and creative industry policies.