President's panel takes suggestions

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 (林信義), a panel co-convener who chaired the discussion meeting, said that he will be accepting suggestions on additional issues before Thursday.

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 (陳水扁) in an effort to improve Taiwan's sluggish economy, are divided into five panels, each of which handles a major economic issue and is overseen by a conference vice chairman as well as three co-conveners.

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) is responsible for overseeing a panel that will focus on issues regarding the worsening investment environment.

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 (台塑集團) Chairman Wang Yung-ching (王永慶) oversees a panel on issues related to decreasing industrial competitiveness. Former premier and opposition KMT Vice Chairman Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) is in charge of a panel on the worsening domestic financial situation.

Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫) is responsible for a panel on issues related to the improvement of cross-strait economic and trade relations.