Luxembourg’s decision to open an official representative office in Taipei this week is an indication of the value it places on relations with Taiwan, the head of the office said yesterday.
“This is a part of the overall strategic economic positioning of Luxembourg in Asia, which includes setting up offices in Seoul, Shanghai, India, Dubai, Tokyo and Taipei,” Hugues Mignot, the executive director of the Luxembourg Trade and Investment Office, Taipei, said in a telephone interview. “Because of the improving relations at all levels with China, the world is even more attracted to Taiwan than before, as it looks at Taiwan as a hub for improving and developing additional relations with China.”
Chiu Jong-jen (邱仲仁), director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MOFA) Department of European Affairs, said that the ministry welcomed the establishment of the Luxembourg office, as it would help the Western European country gain a better understanding of Taiwan’s economic and political situation and boost bilateral exchanges.
Luxembourg, one the founders of the EU, is the 17th European entity to open an office in Taiwan.
Mignot said the opening of the office in Taipei followed a series of successful bilateral contacts between the two countries.
He said there were already very strong economic links between the two sides, but Luxembourg wanted to develop a new kind of relationship with Taiwan.
He said he would work to reinforce the substance of the existing relations in such fields as air cargo, logistics, financial and investments funds management, Web hosting, radio and satellite TV management and shipping registration.
Taiwan and Luxembourg could also cooperate in high-technology businesses, such as photovoltaic and healthcare research, he added.
Mignot, a Belgian who has served as director of the Belgium Office in Taipei over the past two decades, said that he was appointed to head the Luxembourg office because of his experience. The appointment demonstrated the diversity and openness of Luxembourg, which has three official languages and more than 300,000 migrant workers from other European countries, he said.
As the top Luxembourg representative to Taiwan, Mignot promised to work on a treaty between Taipei and Luxembourg on avoiding double taxation, and to promote academic and cultural exchanges.
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
STAY COOL: The HPA recommended that people stay hydrated, use air-conditioning or fans while indoors, wear loose-fitting clothes and walk in the shade while outdoors Employers must implement measures such as installing cooling equipment, and providing drinking water and rest breaks for outdoor workers starting from Monday next week, the Taipei Department of Labor said on Sunday. Employers who fail to comply could face fines of NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (職業安全衛生法), the department said. Businesses in Taipei employing fewer than 100 workers, as well as registered self-employed workers with labor insurance coverage, could receive on-site assessments and guidance from occupational safety consultants to help them apply for central government subsidies to implement or improve heat-protection measures, it said. Under the Ministry of
NATIONAL SECURITY: Authorities are working to confirm the identities of the military personnel involved and investigating possible illegal conduct and regulatory violations Authorities are probing possible national security implications after Kinmen police and immigration officers on Sunday found a Chinese woman allegedly posing as a tourist while engaging in prostitution involving more than 10 military personnel. The woman, surnamed Chen (陳), has since been deported, authorities said, adding that investigators are still working to confirm the identities of those implicated, as the records only listed code names and aliases. The case stemmed from a report received by the Kinmen District Prosecutors’ Office on Friday last week from the Jinhu Precinct of the Kinmen County Police Bureau. On Sunday, police, along with the National Immigration
RSS