Taiwan's true economic power can only be fully displayed through cooperation between the public and private sectors, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said during the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce's annual luncheon for central Taiwan today.
The premier thanked elite enterprises from central Taiwan for their contributions to development and pledged the government will continue advancing its current initiatives, including the Free Economic Pilot Zone (FEPZ) program—considered the most important project in the near term—while employing different policy instruments to create a beneficial economic environment.
"This Executive Yuan team has made revitalizing the economy its top priority ever since it was formed. The Executive Yuan has frequently organized gatherings with Taiwan's six major industrial and commercial associations, as it hopes to take advantage of the opportunities to communicate with businesses face-to-face, to hear their suggestions, and to work together to promote the nation's economic development," Jiang said.
"The communication channels between the public and private sectors must stay open and smooth so agencies can make decisions with the knowledge of the difficulties and successes of private enterprises in mind.
"More importantly, industries can use these opportunities to explain their recommendations about regulations or policy direction to ministries. This way, the economic policies the nation formulates will not be disjointed from the public sector.
"Taiwan's economic development over the past decades has been hailed as a miracle. Although the current global market environment isn't especially good, we have seen a gradual turn for the better. America's debt and budget problems are being resolved; the European debt crisis is slowly becoming a thing of the past; and the decline of mainland China's economic growth rate is not rapid.
"Hence, we have no reason to be pessimistic. The environment in front of us will give Taiwan more opportunities, and the vitality of its economy will be put on display," Jiang concluded.
Accompanying the premier to the luncheon were Minister without Portfolio and Council for Economic Planning and Development Minister Kuan Chung-ming, Minister without Portfolio Schive Chi, Executive Yuan Spokesperson Cheng Li-wun, Minister of Economic Affairs Chang Chia-juch, and representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Mainland Affairs Council, Financial Supervisory Commission, National Science Council and Council of Labor Affairs.