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Lu urges businesspeople`return, invest in Taiwan'

Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday urged overseas Taiwan businesspeople to return home and work with local businesses for the development of Taiwan's industry and economy.

The vice president made the remarks at the eighth annual meeting of the Council of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Asia (CTCCA, 亞洲台灣商會聯合總會) held in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.

Lu noted that Taiwan's economic woes are due mainly to the effects of the sluggish world economy and to the systematic absorption of Taiwan capital by China, pointing out that China has absorbed nearly US$200 billion worth of Taiwan capital over the past decade.

But Lu cautioned against investing in China, saying that corruption there is rife, social order is in a bad state, and also that it is not a country ruled by law, adding that "less than one third" of Taiwan businesspeople have made money on their investments there.

She also noted that the serious state of Taiwan's economy is due to the public's lack of confidence in the nation, which she said has resulted from a combination of political and social factors.

The vice president said that overseas Chinese are "the mothers of revolution" and that overseas Taiwan businesspeople are "the fathers of democracy," urging Taiwan businesspeople to return to invest in the island and contribute to "their eternal motherland."

"Democratic Taiwan will be the best place for Taiwan businesspeople to settle down," Lu said, adding that China is "not a haven for investment."

CTCCA President Lu Chun-lin (呂春霖) said at the opening of the four-day meeting that this is the first time since the council's inauguration in 1993 that the annual meeting is being held in a place outside Taipei. He added that he believes the island is the home of Taiwan businesspeople and that Kaohsiung is a place worthy of investment.

He said that it is urgent that Taiwan businesspeople return to their roots and invest in order to help reinvigorate the domestic economy. Noting that the theme of the meeting is "pooling the strength of overseas Taiwan businesspeople to return to the motherland to invest," he expressed the hope that all the participants will actively contribute to their motherland.
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