ROC Premier Jiang Yi-huah highlighted the government’s policy successes this year Dec. 20 in Taipei City, vowing to step up efforts to ensure the country’s continuous development across the board.
“The Cabinet’s policy priorities this year spanned the economy, infrastructure, public health and social welfare, sustainable development and talent cultivation,” Jiang said.
“All relevant agencies have been directed to keep reviewing their measures and make policy adjustments in response to recommendations from other organizations and parties involved,” he added.
The premier made the remarks during an annual inspection visit to the Cabinet by members of the Control Yuan.
According to Jiang, following lackluster economic performance during the first quarter of the year, the Cabinet introduced an economic stimulus package in May that has seen the country’s stock market significantly pick up steam, among other improvements in the local economy.
By implementing regulatory easing on third-party payments, the government is also assisting local e-merchants expand their operations in the rest of the world, especially mainland China, he added.
“More importantly, the Free Economic Pilot Zone project, which was approved in April, will allow more flexible business operations in the country’s designated free trade ports.”
The Cabinet is drafting an FEPZ statute that will fast-track further globalization and trade liberalization efforts by the country’s private sector, as well as promote key activities and sectors such as educational innovation, financial services, value-added agriculture, international health care and smart logistics.
In terms of promoting public health and social welfare, Jiang said the new reimbursement system under the revised national health insurance program, which took effect at the beginning of the year, has put the program NT$76.1 billion (US$2.54 billion) in the black during the first 10 months of the year.
As part of efforts to widen the social welfare net and bridge the country’s income inequality, the government introduced amendments to the Public Assistance Act in July 2011 that have benefitted more than 685,000 individuals so far.
Following the renovation on Terminal One at the Taoyuan International Airport, passenger traffic is expected to increase from 12 million to 15 million per year, while the inclusion of Kaohsiung Port as a
London Metal Exchange delivery port will help strengthen the harbor city’s pivotal role in East Asia’s maritime transport.
Other major policies this year include drafting a statute on flood control with a six-year budget of NT$60 billion; launching a five-year plan to turn Kinmen into a low-carbon island; organizing a Cabinet-level board for talent policy; and revising the Senior High School Education Act. (SFC-SDH)
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