The National Development Council (NDC) will not serve a “caretaker” role, new council Minister Woody Duh (杜紫軍) said at a handover ceremony yesterday, adding that he will lead the NDC as it continues to push major policies for national development.
Duh, former minister of economic affairs and minister without portfolio, said he was asked by Premier Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國) to take the position on Thursday night last week.
While initially declining the offer, Duh was later persuaded by the premier, he added.
“He [Mao] told me that he could not find a suitable person to take the post and asked me to act for the greater good for the country. I could not really say no to him,” Duh said.
Duh said he would do his best to keep pushing the progress of major policies, including a draft bill regarding the establishment of free economic pilot zones.
However, he said he would not spend too much time on pushing the legislative procedures of the draft if there are related issues that have not reached a consensus among legislators.
Duh said he would instead focus on communicating with the public and listening to public opinion about the draft bill to see whether there is anything the government should amend in the bill.
“We will not give up on the draft bill, but we will adjust the way we do things,” he said.
As the council bears the responsibility to map out development plans for the nation, Duh said: “We will spare no effort in our duties, regardless which political party rules the nation.”
Former council minister Kuan Chung-ming (管中閔) believes Duh will lead the council well.
“I feel relieved to hand over the affairs to Duh because I know they are in good hands,” Kuan said at the ceremony.
TAKING STOCK: A Taiwanese cookware firm in Vietnam urged customers to assess inventory or place orders early so shipments can reach the US while tariffs are paused Taiwanese businesses in Vietnam are exploring alternatives after the White House imposed a 46 percent import duty on Vietnamese goods, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of “reciprocal” tariffs on the US’ trading partners. Lo Shih-liang (羅世良), chairman of Brico Industry Co (裕茂工業), a Taiwanese company that manufactures cast iron cookware and stove components in Vietnam, said that more than 40 percent of his business was tied to the US market, describing the constant US policy shifts as an emotional roller coaster. “I work during the day and stay up all night watching the news. I’ve been following US news until 3am
UNCERTAINTY: Innolux activated a stringent supply chain management mechanism, as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure optimal inventory levels for customers Flat-panel display makers AUO Corp (友達) and Innolux Corp (群創) yesterday said that about 12 to 20 percent of their display business is at risk of potential US tariffs and that they would relocate production or shipment destinations to mitigate the levies’ effects. US tariffs would have a direct impact of US$200 million on AUO’s revenue, company chairman Paul Peng (彭雙浪) told reporters on the sidelines of the Touch Taiwan trade show in Taipei yesterday. That would make up about 12 percent of the company’s overall revenue. To cope with the tariff uncertainty, AUO plans to allocate its production to manufacturing facilities in
Six years ago, LVMH’s billionaire CEO Bernard Arnault and US President Donald Trump cut the blue ribbon on a factory in rural Texas that would make designer handbags for Louis Vuitton, one of the world’s best-known luxury brands. However, since the high-profile opening, the factory has faced a host of problems limiting production, 11 former Louis Vuitton employees said. The site has consistently ranked among the worst-performing for Louis Vuitton globally, “significantly” underperforming other facilities, said three former Louis Vuitton workers and a senior industry source, who cited internal rankings shared with staff. The plant’s problems — which have not
TARIFF CONCERNS: The chipmaker cited global uncertainty from US tariffs and a weakening economic outlook, but said its Singapore expansion remains on track Vanguard International Semiconductor Corp (世界先進), a foundry service provider specializing in producing power management and display driver chips, yesterday withdrew its full-year revenue projection of moderate growth for this year, as escalating US tariff tensions raised uncertainty and concern about a potential economic recession. The Hsinchu-based chipmaker in February said revenues this year would grow mildly from last year based on improving supply chain inventory levels and market demand. At the time, it also anticipated gradual quarter revenue growth. However, the US’ sweeping tariff policy has upended the industry’s supply chains and weakened economic prospects for the world economy, it said. “Now
RSS