The government’s New Southbound Policy is producing early results as Taiwan’s exports to the targeted countries in December of 2016 jumped 20.1 percent year-on-year to US$5.37 billion. In particular, exports to the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) showed clear signs of rebounding by soaring 22.9 percent to US$4.72 billion, the Executive Yuan’s Office of Trade Negotiations said today.
On the morning of December 31, President Tsai Ing-wen attended a year-end press conference at the Presidential Office for the domestic and international press corps. In her year-end address to the assembled journalists, President Tsai declared that the government during the coming year would make an all-out effort to boost the economy, continue forward with major reforms, respond to changing international conditions, maintain peace and stability, and seriously address divisive issues. The presid
The number of travelers arriving in Taiwan from countries covered by the New Southbound Policy surged 23 percent year on year in November, reflecting the effectiveness of the government initiative in bolstering the local tourism industry.
The Asia Silicon Valley Development Agency was inaugurated Dec. 25 in northern Taiwan’s Taoyuan City, marking a significant step in government efforts to foster innovation, promote the Internet of Things sector and attract top-class tech talent.
On the morning of December 21, President Tsai Ing-wen attended the 2016 Forum on Opportunities for New Southbound Policy, where she elaborated that the New Southbound Policy has already started and both the private and public sectors should simultaneously work in a two-pronged approach to promote it. Through wide-ranging discussions and cooperation, these two sectors can establish a new type of partnership with the countries targeted by the New Southbound Policy.
President Tsai Ing-wen celebrated the contributions of immigrants at a festival Dec. 17 in Taipei City, praising the new residents and pledging that the government will continually strive to ensure Taiwan remains a pluralistic and inclusive society.
Our New Southbound Policy is underway. In the coming weeks and months, my government will concentrate resources and push ahead with implementation. For instance, we will hold events and exhibitions on Taiwan in major cities in ASEAN. We will expand the role of our international agricultural development companies. We will recruit more foreign students, and we will make concrete progress on investment projects.
