Premier Jiang Yi-huah today credited small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for seeing Taiwan's economy off to a bright start this year, despite the turmoil that continues to plague the global economy.
Speaking at a Lunar New Year banquet held by SME associations, the premier said he hoped SMEs will work together to maximize their benefit to society, the economy as well as the nation. He also wished them success and prosperity in the year ahead.
Jiang said Taiwan is unique in that its main force of growth comes from SMEs, unlike other countries where large corporations form the backbone of the economy. SMEs comprise 98 percent of Taiwan's companies and provide 78 percent of job opportunities.
On first glance at the statistics, one might see strength only in the number of SMEs, Jiang said. But having visited many businesses over the past year at the Executive Yuan, he has come to realize that the power of SMEs lay in their entrepreneurial spirit and their diversity, energy and personal touch.
Jiang pointed out that some SMEs have only 20 to 30 employees—some with fewer than 100, but they all strive to innovate and rise above the global competition. It is this kind of competitive creativity that has brought prosperity to Taiwan and fed countless families nationwide.
Jiang said the government attaches great value to SMEs, always placing them at the center of major economic policies. SMEs play a key role in the Executive Yuan's Economic Power-Up Plan, a blueprint formulated under former Premier Sean Chen for transforming Taiwan industries, creating job opportunities and achieving economic breakthrough.
Under that plan, the government designed a "backbone industries" program specifically to help SMEs, providing them with business assistance, relaxing regulations, and negotiating advantages for them internationally. The program aims to create an SME platform that will not only push Taiwan's economy forward and ahead of other Asian nations, but also laying a firm foundation and secure hope for future generations.
Premier Jiang was accompanied at tonight's banquet by Executive Yuan Deputy Secretary-General Chien Tai-lang, Executive Yuan Spokesperson Cheng Li-wun, Economics Minister Chang Chia-juch and former Economics Minister Shih Yen-shiang.