Huang stressed that there are compelling commercial reasons for enterprises to carry out environmental sound investments to ensure business sustainability.
Due to Taiwan's entry into the WTO, Huang said, overseas consumers' concern about the environmental friendliness of products and packaging can no longer be neglected.
Officials of the Industrial Development Bureau (IDB) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs said that the promotion of sustainable development in Taiwan was actually driven by both the government and the private sector.
Shih Yen-hsi (
To make sure that Taiwan's industry becomes fully integrated with the global market, contradictions in existing policies should be eliminated, Shih said.
"When Taiwan is exploring its business opportunities overseas, incomplete environmental policies often intimidate foreign enterprises," Shih said.
Before the Waste Disposal Act was revised last October, CEOs' liabilities for illegal dumping by contracted waste handlers was unacceptable.
Shih said that using resources reasonably would be Taiwan's top priority when adopting strategies to make the nation sustainable.
"We should consider promoting renewable-energy industries by adjusting out-of-date polices when we are faced with the controversy surrounding nuclear energy," Shih said.
On Wednesday, the Cabinet's committee for promoting sustainable development confirmed that, beginning next year, sustainable development indicators would be published annually.
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