At the Cabinet meeting today, Premier Chang San-cheng thanked the various ministries that have injected resources over the long term to assist in the development of the Hualien-Taitung area, including its transportation, culture, agriculture, and health and welfare.
Chang stated that looking after remote regions is established government policy, and even greater efforts must be made in this respect. In advancing Hualien-Taitung development, the administration should place itself in the shoes of local residents to understand their needs. Hence the central government should divide responsibilities with the local governments, respect their wishes regarding projects they wish to advance, and take an advisory role when examining funding in order to help them complete infrastructure.
The premier made these remarks after a briefing by the National Development Council (NDC) on bright spots and innovations in the sustainable development of Hualien and Taitung counties. The various projects on which central ministries collaborated with local governments have helped greatly in promoting local tourism, employment and economic growth, Chang pointed out. These programs included creating charming spots for international tourism, building indigenous cultural and creative industry clusters, establishing the TTMaker innovation park in Taitung, and setting up a wholesale produce market in Hualien. The premier enjoined the NDC to continue to provide related professional consultations and set up real-time and effective communication channels.
The Hualien-Taitung Area Development Act was promulgated and came into force on June 29, 2011, the NDC stated. As part of the strategic plan for the sustainable development of the region, various projects have been carried out including the Hualien-Taitung Six-Level Industries Development Program, promotion of health and social security measures, and construction of green transportation networks.
The NDC highlighted the following administrative accomplishments:
● The unemployment rate of Hualien-Taitung indigenous communities dropped from 7.5 percent in
2008 to 4.79 percent in 2015.
● Average disposable household income in the area surpassed NT$700,000 (US$20,863) in 2014.
● As of the end of 2015, the region's major tourist sites had received 18 million visitors.