Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday at the first Cabinet meeting of the year declared his New Year’s resolutions for the government: strengthening economic development and public security while safeguarding the constitutional order and people’s rights.
Economic development and public security have been a focus of the government since it entered office on May 20 last year, and the economic growth rate for last year is expected to reach 4.7 percent, Cho said.
On Tuesday, the TAIEX closed at 23,035.10, up 5,105 points for the year, while the stock market’s capitalization grew to more than NT$80 trillion (US$2.44 trillion), marking the biggest surge of the past 25 years, he said.
Photo courtesy of the Executive Yuan
While the domestic economy and stock market are booming, the government would continue to promote equitable distribution of wealth to share the economic fruits with all people, Cho said.
It would also endeavor to stabilize prices, promote urban redevelopment, and combat narcotics and fraud, as well as carry out a second energy transition to provide a safe, stable power supply for industries, he said.
It has granted salary raises for military personnel, civil servants and public-school teachers, with the expectation that this would set an example for the private sector while promoting pay transparency, Cho said, adding that the government would improve the workplace culture of the civil service by establishing a safe, friendly and peaceful work environment.
The Executive Yuan’s Council for Economic Planning and Development has approved several schemes to boost national competitiveness, including the “Trillion NT Dollar Investment National Development Plan” and a scheme to fund digital and net zero transitions of micro-companies and small and medium-sized enterprises, he said.
The third phase of its regulatory goals for greenhouse gas emissions would be implemented this year, Cho said, thanking academics for their advice and industries for their cooperation.
The government would continue to step up the Long-term Care 3.0 program by integrating resources from families, medical institutions and social welfare units, he said.
In terms of external policies, the government expects to cooperate more closely with democratic partners, as well as develop new forms of Taiwan-US economic collaboration, he said.
The Executive Yuan would set up a task force similar to the Presidential Office’s Whole-of-Society Defense Resilience Committee to promote cross-strait exchanges, with a focus on mutual respect and sustainable development, Cho said.
The government is responsible for bolstering national defense and self-defense capabilities, he said.
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