American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan members view government inefficiency as the most serious obstacle to doing business here, a business confidence survey released yesterday said.
In its annual survey of its members, AmCham found that government obstacles were the primary concern among foreign businesses in Taiwan, followed by infrastructure issues. Also mentioned was a new category -- operational routine obstacles -- which refer to hindrances to the daily operation of international companies.
In the survey, 55 percent of respondents indicated that government inefficiency was the main cause for concern, trailed by overly restrictive regulations and lack of clear economic policies.
"It comes down to promises that have been made but very little action taken," said Richard Henson, president of AmCham, who was speaking at the official release of the chamber's 2002 White Paper yesterday.
Government attempts to protect intillectual property rights (IPR), while being accompanied by a legal revamp of related laws, has stalled when it comes to implementation and enforcement, it said.
"The government over the years has passed a number of laws to make most of Taiwan's IP legislation meet international standards. Taiwan is still one the biggest pirates in the world when it comes to copyright and patent protection," the paper said.
AmCham, which has 925 members representing 610 companies, also attacked the inefficiency in the legislature, where lack of action in passing telecoms-related law was cited as another obstacle for foreign businesses in Taiwan.
"Raising the direct foreign equity cap on Type I telecoms operations was agreed to in principle ... probably more than two years ago. It just hasn't moved," said David Hoffman, co-chair of AmCham's telecommunications committee.
The measure, which would raise the cap from 20 percent to 49.9 percent, has been stuck in the legislature, he said.
Other obstacles highlighted by members in the survey, which was conducted by SuperPoll.net and drew 272 responses, or a 29 percent response rate, were lack of prominence of the English language, insufficient access to professional services that meet international standards and infrastructure issues.
"Taiwan's image as a high-tech manufacturing center contrasts sharply with the facts of its inadequate infrastructure," the white paper said.
The paper said Taiwan needs to upgrade power and water supplies, transportation and telecommunication facilities, industrial-waste disposal, sewage treatment.
"For well over a decade, the government has resisted internationalizing the quality of bidding processes, contract terms and conditions, dispute settlement mechanisms, and building code and permit requirements," the report said. "The results are clear: top international contractors are turning away from Taiwan."
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