Premier William Lai (賴清德) has confirmed the formation of a 10-person task force charged with promoting trade goals of the New Southbound Policy, a source said.
The task force, which is to report to the Executive Yuan’s Office of Trade Negotiations, is tasked with promoting trade and cooperation with Southeast Asian nations and India in the areas of medicine, petrochemicals and agriculture, the source said, adding that Minister Without Portfolio John Deng (鄧振中) has been chosen to lead the group.
Other members are Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Chih-chung (吳志中), Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Mei-hua (王美花), Deputy Minister of Education Yao Leeh-ter (姚立德), Vice Minister Yan Jeou-rong (顏久榮), Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare Ho Chi-kung (何啟功), Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Chen Chi-chung (陳吉仲), National Development Council Deputy Minister Chiou Jiunn-rong (邱俊榮), Overseas Community Affairs Council Vice Minister Roy Yuan-Rong Leu (呂元榮) and Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Chi Wen-jong (祁文中).
Bureau of Foreign Trade Director-General Yang Jen-ni (楊珍妮) is to oversee the group’s daily operations.
Originally planned for establishment next month, the task force was proposed after a foreign trade strategies conference convened by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Dec. 26 last year, when Tsai said that the trade office had to strengthen its executive capabilities.
The task force began operations earlier this month after Deng sent a report to Lai for approval with a proposed plan of action and a list of members, the source said.
Members at last week’s meeting decided to create individualized plans for each of the target nations to highlight varying focuses.
For example, the nation might send agricultural experts to India to share their expertise, the source said.
Potential areas of cooperation include tourism and innovative industry development, they added.
The task force is to convene again next month and is to complement the activities of a separate task force under the National Security Council, the source said.
NEW AGREEMENT: Malaysia approved imports last year after nearly two years of negotiations and inspections to meet quarantine requirements, officials said Up to 3.6 tonnes of pomeloes from Taiwan cleared Malaysian customs on Friday, in the first shipment of Taiwanese pomeloes to Malaysia. Taiwan-grown pomeloes are popular in domestic and overseas markets for their tender and juicy taste, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency said. The fruit is already exported to Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, it added. The agency began applying for access to the Malaysian market in 2023, compiling data on climate suitability, pests and diseases, and post-harvest handling, while also engaging in nearly two years of negotiations with Malaysian authorities and submitting supplementary
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
Tigerair Taiwan and China Airlines (CAL) today announced that several international flights were canceled or rescheduled due to Typhoon Ragasa. The Central Weather Administration (CWA) has maintained sea and land warnings for the typhoon. Its storm circle reached the Hengchun Peninsula (恆春半島) on Taiwan's southern tip at 11am today. Tigerair Taiwan said it canceled Monday's IT551/IT552 Taoyuan-Da Nang, IT606/IT607 Taoyuan-Busan and IT602 Taoyuan-Seoul Incheon flights. Tomorrow, cancelations include IT603 Seoul Incheon-Taoyuan, as well as flights between Taoyuan and Sapporo, Osaka, Tokyo Narita, Okinawa, Fukuoka, Saga, Tokyo Haneda, Nagoya, Asahikawa and Jeju. On Wednesday, the IT321/IT322 Kaohsiung-Macau round-trip would also be canceled. CAL announced that today's
About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had
RSS