President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) yesterday called on overseas Taiwanese businesspeople to invest in the nation and to support Taiwan’s international participation at the annual meeting of the World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce.
Tsai thanked overseas Taiwanese businesspeople for bolstering the economy and trade relations between Taiwan and other countries around the globe, and expressed gratitude for their charity work that has helped Taiwan and the international community.
The organization donated supplies to places in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria in February, she said.
Photo: CNA
It also donated equipment to Taiwanese search-and-rescue teams to help improve disaster prevention and relief capabilities this year, she said.
While overseas Taiwanese businesspeople help Taiwan expand economic and trade exchanges with other countries, the government is also supporting their development abroad, she said, citing the first agreement under the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade.
Last year, the government launched the Central and Eastern Europe Credit Fund and Investment Fund to facilitate cooperation between Taiwan and European countries in fields such as biotechnology and electric vehicles, she said.
The investment made under the Invest in Taiwan program and repatriated overseas funds have exceeded NT$2 trillion (US$62.21 billion) in the past few years, driving Taiwan’s economic growth, she said, adding that the program is extended to next year.
Tsai called on overseas Taiwanese businesspeople to continue rallying support for Taiwan’s participation, which would enable Taiwan in international organizations to play a more crucial role globally.
Addressing the same event, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) called on the solidarity of overseas Taiwanese businesspeople to make Taiwan an “indispensable and key force in the world supply chain.”
As the biggest organization of overseas Taiwanese businesspeople, the organization has long assisted Taiwan to advance trade relations with other countries, Chen said.
Overseas Taiwanese businesspeople are “Taiwan’s hidden soft power around the world,” building successful careers and doing good work internationally, he said.
They help cultivate Taiwan’s relationships with foreign countries, he said, adding that their contributions are well-recognized and respected.
The government is striving to support industrial upgrading, transformation and innovation as well as bolster the industrial environment and improve administrative efficiency in this post-COVID-19 era, he said.
The government also endeavors to nurture talent, especially through formulating policies on retaining foreign students, he added.
Regarding the goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions, the government promulgated the Climate Change Adaptation Act (氣候變遷因應法) this year, allocating NT$74.3 billion from this year until 2026 toward achieving such a goal, he said.
With the upgrading of the Cabinet’s Ministry of Environment and the Taiwan Carbon Solution Exchange opening last month, the government is to coordinate relevant agencies and assist the industry in pursuing the net zero target, he said.
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