The Ministry of Economic Affairs will likely follow measures used in the screening of investment in eight-inch silicon wafer production in China to screen new "sensitive" or "major investment projects" in China, Vice Minister of Economic Affairs Shih Yen-hsiang (
This means that applications will be carefully screened not only by the Investment Commission, but also by ministerial-level government officials, and that the applications will be discussed in supra-ministerial meetings, Shih said.
A set of supporting measures will also be put forth before the end of June as part of the efforts to respond to the "active management, effective opening" China investment policy put forward by President Chen Shui-bian (
Investors or managers of "sensitive" or "major" investment projects in China will be required to brief the government in advance as part of the screening process, he continued.
Shih did not give specific dollar amounts as to which investment projects would be categorized as "major projects," saying that these will be discussed later in supra-ministerial meetings.
As for "major" projects already up and operating in China, he said the government will send inspectors to look into the financing, production facilities, technology transfer and related matters.
Since China is outside the jurisdiction of Taiwanese officials, experts from Taiwan's intermediary body, the Straits Exchange Foundation, or other professional organizations, might be invited to travel to China to carry out the task, Shih said.
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