President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) touted plans yesterday for a smart distribution system for the proposed free economic pilot zones, a development that he said would be a “small-scale revolution” for local trade.
During a visit to a company at the Port of Taipei, Ma said the system and express delivery for ocean shipping will revolutionize the way business is done and boost the nation’s economic power. He mentioned few specifics, but gave an estimated completion time of June.
The planned free economic pilot zones are to focus on five highlighted sectors of the economy — smart distribution, international healthcare, value-added agriculture, financial services and educational innovation.
The zones are to be based around Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park along with six major seaports, including the Port of Taipei.
While making a tour of the Tonglit Logistics Co facility at the port with other top officials, Ma said the rapid improvement in ties with China seen under his administration was an important factor in the push to become a regional hub.
The government began plans to develop the nation into an Asia-Pacific hub 19 years ago, but the policy has not been implemented because transportation and logistics systems are not effectively linked with China’s, its largest trade partner, he said.
Ma did not speak about introducing expedited customs clearance across the Taiwan Strait and tariff-free exports of Taiwanese cars to China, saying that he would ask the relevant authorities to study the issues.
He said that the government would work for the interests of local companies when developing free-trade strategies, including for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), both of which Taiwan is hoping to join.
According to Cabinet estimates, the pilot zones could attract an additional NT$21 billion (US$699.33 million) in private investment this year and create 13,000 new jobs.
In related news, a group of Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomats are to attend a seminar that begins today in Taipei as part of the country’s preparations for working to gain entry into two proposed Asia-Pacific trade blocs.
The envoys, posted mainly in countries involved in the trade bloc negotiations, are to attend the four-day seminar, which is aimed at developing strategies to gain support abroad for Taiwan’s bids to join the proposed TPP and RCEP, the ministry said.
Ma is to host the opening ceremony today, and Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) and officials from other government agencies are to meet with the envoys over the next two days to discuss preparations to join the economic partnerships, the ministry said in a statement.
Topics to be discussed include strategies to join the TPP and RCEP, trade liberalization efforts, the free economic pilot zones and development of the cross-strait relationship, the ministry said.
During the final two days of the seminar, participants are to travel to the Precision Machinery Innovation Technology Park in Greater Taichung, the ministry said, adding they are to visit the free-trade zone at Kaohsiung Harbor and the agricultural biotechnology park in Pingtung County.
The visits are aimed at providing the diplomats with a better understanding of Taiwan’s competitive industries and the continuing progress on the country’s free economic pilot zones, the ministry said.
Taiwan’s representatives expected to attend the seminar include those from Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, India, Peru, Chile, Canada and Mexico.
Diplomatic sources said that Representative to the US King Pu-tsung (金溥聰) will not return to attend the seminar, but the deputy representative to the US will take part.
Representative to the UK Shen Lyu-shun (沈呂巡), who is to succeed King as representative to the US, will attend the seminar, the source added.
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