The Economic Development Advisory Conference panel in charge of evaluating domestic investment environment issues remained undecided yesterday on what topics will be addressed in addition to those already on a predetermined list.
In response to concerns raised by panel members that the listed issues are not the only investment-related problems facing the nation today, Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-yi (
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Another meeting will be convened Saturday, he said.
Existing topics to be addressed by the panel, which will be reporting its results at the Aug. 24-26 conference, include how to best utilize land for production and stabilize the supply of water and electricity, and how to improve government efficiency while thoroughly eliminating obstacles to enticing business investments at both central and local government levels.
Other issues include how to attract domestic, foreign and mainland Chinese investment by providing a reward system for globally competitive businesses, how to speed up the completion of world-class infrastructure development by expanding the budget for public construction, and how to remove non-economic factors that obstruct economic development.
Meanwhile, another conference panel assigned to address growing domestic unemployment issues agreed to conduct regional seminars in northern, central and southern Taiwan and discuss possible amendments to labor regulations, changes to foreign labor policies, ways to promote employment opportunities and responses to possible jobless issues after Taiwan's entry into the WTO.
A panel on the issues related to industrial competitiveness also decided at yesterday's preparatory meeting that it will organize a public seminar on the agricultural industry in southern Taiwan, a seminar on traditional industries in central Taiwan and another seminar on the biotech industry in Taipei prior to meeting again to discuss their assigned topics.
Participants to the conference, which was initiated by President Chen Shui-bian (
Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) is responsible for a panel that will delve into issues on the growing domestic unemployment rate.
Formosa Plastics Group (
Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Koo Chen-fu (
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