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Rosy outlook for economy, forecasts Vice Premier Lin

Vice Premier Lin Hsin-i (林信義) painted a rosy picture for the nation's economy yesterday, predicting that "good days are coming."

Lin made the remarks while speaking on Taiwan's current economic situation and its prospects to the representatives of manufacturers in Tainan, southern Taiwan.

"One must have confidence in Taiwan and find out its position as good days are coming," he said.

He said that "Taiwanese are devoted to earning money, but they are not united behind a common cause." He claimed that while "foreign countries are looking favorably toward Taiwan, domestic newspapers have reported on the island as if it were a place afflicted with cancer."

Lin's words came on the heels of the latest statistics unveiled by the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics which show that economic growth in the fourth quarter of last year was 5.17 percent and that economic growth last year was adjusted upwards from 3.15 percent to 3.24 percent, making it top of the four Asian dragons -- South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.

Lin said when he served as the minister of economic affairs in 2001, he urged the public "to brace for hard days" and was attacked relentlessly for speaking his mind. Two years later, however, those who had attacked him now praise his vision, he said.

He further made the claim that the current administration has "no slogan-shouting people, but it has those who have vision and strategy.

"For Taiwan's future, the most important thing is to develop it into a research and development, and logistic center, " Lin said, so that it can upgrade its industry, develop its own brands and establish networks.

Lin said that he is against R&D without manufacturing, saying that Taiwan needs to produce high-value-added products and that customers not only pursue products and services, but also care about value.
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