President Tsai Ing-wen said March 18 that the government is committed to assisting Taiwan firms operating overseas so that they can continue to expand the country’s presence on the global stage.
 
Offshore Taiwan firms play a frontline role in connecting the country with the rest of the world through their economic influence and community initiatives, the president said.
 
They have also shown great efforts in promoting the country by donating surgical masks in the name of Taiwan to communities in which they operate and purchasing 481 tons of locally produced pineapples and related products, she added.
 
Tsai made the remarks while receiving a delegation of World Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
 
According to the president, the government has rolled out a raft of measures to support the firms’ operations, including an industry-academia collaboration project and a technical service platform involving local tertiary and research institutions.
 
To mitigate the impact of COVID-19, the Overseas Community Affairs Council and the Ministry of Health and Welfare jointly developed an app offering medical consultation specifically to Taiwan expatriates, she said.
 
In addition, Tsai said the OCAC has been instructed to offer pandemic financial relief measures such as extension of loan repayments, higher loan amounts and interest subsidies.
 
The firms’ support for Taiwan is sincerely appreciated by the government and people, Tsai said, adding that the government will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them, especially during this challenging time. (SFC-E)
 
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