More than 100 business representatives yesterday participated in a ceremony in Taipei to announce their intention to participate in the government’s reconstruction projects to tackle the devastation caused in large areas of southern Taiwan last month by Typhoon Morakot.
“When I was in the south, I heard a victim say that the north is Taiwan’s treasury, the south is its food factory, and the east is its holiday destination, which made me think that when there are places suffering hardship, we have to help them,” said Rock Hsu (許勝雄), chairman of Kinpo Group (金仁寶).
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PHOTO: LO PEI-DER, TAIPEI TIMES
The contribution of businesses to the reconstruction effort is not only in response to the government’s expectations, but also to give something back to society, Hsu said.
“Disaster victims need more than a job. They need to develop industries that can link up with local culture. It’s never easy. Having good intentions is not enough, the government must have the implementation capacity to coordinate resources poured in by business,” Hsu said.
GUIDELINES
Hon Hai Group chairman Terry Gou (郭台銘) said that any reconstruction projects should be carried out according to land restoration and water management guidelines.
“If we can’t do well in the reconstruction to survive flooding caused by the next El Nino, it is possible that businesses’ responsibility will be looked into in the future,” Gou said.
Gou said that he also worried that the rules and regulations on the government’s procurement and construction projects would cause inefficiency and hinder private sector participation.
MISGIVINGS
In response, Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) tried to clear up misgivings.
Liu said that all reconstruction projects would be implemented consistent with the principles of land recovery and that the Executive Yuan’s Post-Typhoon Morakot Reconstruction Committee would serve as a window for coordination between the government and business.
Minister of Economic Affairs Yiin Chii-ming (尹啟銘) laid out the government’s vision of rebuilding ravaged villages, saying that they would be model communities where the natural environment is preserved, people live a high-tech life and agriculture or industry thrives.
HOME NOT HOUSE
Liu said the government’s goal is to help victims establish a “home” and not just a “house.”
Chao Teng-hsiung (趙藤雄), chairman of the Taipei-based Far Glory Group (遠雄集團), said that he would like to talk to victims face to face to understand what they think of the reconstruction plan.
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