Taiwan’s latest economic indicators point to positive and stable growth, with business orders trending up and employment set to further improve, according to Premier Lai Ching-te Jan. 25.
 
This encouraging development is further evidence that President Tsai Ing-wen’s policies are steering the nation in the right direction and continuing to pay dividends, he said.
 
Official statistics show Taiwan’s gross domestic product grew 2.6 percent in 2017, much better than the 1.5 percent and 0.7 percent registered in 2016 and 2015, respectively, Lai said.
 
Export orders surged 11 percent to a record US$492.8 billion and annual exports reached the second highest in history at US$317.4 billion, with 13 percent growth the best in nearly seven years, he said, adding that unemployment fell to a 17-year low of 3.76 percent.
 
These strong numbers were mirrored in the strong performance of the country’s stock market, Lai said, citing the benchmark index TAIEX hitting a 28-year high and complemented by best-ever combined revenues of all listed companies at NT$32.7 trillion (US$1.1 trillion), up 7 percent year on year.
 
The government will continue its firm and pragmatic approach to tackling challenges facing Taiwan and implementing the next round of reforms, he said. This includes raising wage levels and strengthening the social safety net so as to achieve greater prosperity for all members of society. (SFC-E)