President Tsai praises Taiwan’s APEC business advisory delegation
From
Taiwan Today
2017-07-20
President Tsai Ing-wen is all smiles while receiving Taiwan’s delegation to the APEC Business Advisory Council at the Office of the President July 18 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of Office of the President)
In light of ongoing challenges stemming from globalization, APEC is attaching greater importance to issues in which Taiwan enjoys a competitive edge such as innovative entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises, Tsai said. This approach is laying the foundations for all to share in sustainable, innovative and secure growth, she added.
According to the president, it is hoped that Taiwan’s ongoing participation in the council will advance these goals, create more business opportunities for local firms and help them better connect with the international community.
Other examples of Taiwan’s related involvement in APEC include events organized under the SME Online-to-Offline Initiative, Tsai said, citing forums, a summit, working groups and a workshop in Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam this year. As well as providing greater opportunities for local startups, the events will further strengthen the country’s position in the area of SME development, she added.
Appointed by the president for the second time, Taiwan’s ABAC delegation comprises PChome Online Inc. founder and CEO Jan Hung-tze, I-Mei Foods Co. Ltd. Chairman Henry Kao and Industrial Bank of Taiwan Vice Chairwoman Tina Lo.
Jan is a champion of e-commerce and promotes Taiwan as a successful example for Southeast Asian countries in developing digital economy opportunities as per the government’s New Southbound Policy. Given his invaluable contributions in this regard, Jan was appointed one of seven ambassadors-at-large by the president earlier this month.
Kao, who doubles as co-chair of the ABAC Connectivity Working Group, effectively showcased Taiwan’s economic and trade policies at last year’s council meetings and helped grow its business footprint in the region.
Lo is a financial sector highflier and advocate of issues relating to economic inclusion and technology. As co-chair of the ABAC Micro SME and Entrepreneurship Working Group, she has spared no effort introducing the country’s innovative business ideas to APEC.
The delegation is set to take part in the third ABAC meeting for the year July 24 in Toronto. The previous two meetings took place in Seoul and Bangkok in April and February, respectively. (SFC-E)
