Tainan City Council Speaker Lai Mei-Hui to lead a delegation for visit to Vietnam [Tainan City Council News]
In light of the government’s New Southbound Policy, Tainan City Council Speaker Lai Mei-Hui led a delegation comprising councilors including Hou Tseng-Tsai, Chen Wen-Hsien, Tsai Yu-Chih, Tsai Su Chiu-Chin, Lu Mei-Chyi, Kumu Hacyo, Lin Chih-Chan and Lu Wei-Yin, on a visit to Vietnam, after the sessions had concluded to meet with local Taiwanese businessmen and representatives. Speaker Lai commended the Taiwanese businesses in Vietnam for the hardships they have endured in their entrepreneurial endeavors, their courage and accomplishments and presented specialty agricultural souvenirs from Tainan as a gesture to alleviate their nostalgia. The hardworking folks from Taiwan were also glad and delighted to see city councilors from their hometown in the foreign country. According to Speaker Lai, the local government, city council and all related businesses play crucial roles in Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy and in order for Taiwan’s industrial developments to succeed, all parties must work together as one.
The delegates visited Ta Ya Electric Wire & Cable’s facility in Hải Dương Province on the 28th and was received by VP Hsu Chin-Yao. The Ta Ya Group has been actively creating employment opportunities and enhancing the industry’s technical energy. Not only that, the corporation has stayed true to its policy of keeping its roots in Taiwan and foraying from there into the world. After establishing its first overseas factory in China in 1993, Ta Ya Group has set up bases of operation in Southern and Northern Vietnam as the first fully funded foreign company in Vietnam to be publicly listed. Speaker Lai pointed out that Ta Ya Group had achieved outstanding results in both photovoltaic development and electric cable development. Not only that, Ta Ya Group had been actively operating in conjunction with the government’s promotion of the New Southbound Policy and as such, the company has proven itself to be a role model for the industry to look up to. And as such, the delegates have made this visit to learn from Ta Ya.
In the seminar and exchange with CTCVNHP Secretary Chen Wei-Ming and other representatives from Taiwanese businesses, in addition to chatting about current affairs back in Taiwan, the representatives also shared their hardship and experiences in entrepreneurship when they have just arrived in Vietnam. With regards to the New Southbound Policy that the new government is currently promoting, these representatives were highly optimistic about the outcome. As for suggestions from relevant enterprises on Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy, these enterprises voiced their desire for the government to strengthen the cultivation and exchange of bilateral outstanding talents; leveraging mutual investment between Taiwan and Vietnam and trade advantages to help enterprises secure contract in the market for large infrastructure with the assistance from the national level; offer investments, loans and assurance for enterprises to ensure a sound investment environment; strengthen the functionality of the chamber of commerce so as to facilitate team work and preserve a comprehensive supply chain; foster intercity exchange and implement city diplomacy by connecting the dots and lines to expand bilateral tourism. According to Speaker Lai, in contrast to traditional trade and investments, the government’s policy now covers technology, culture, tourism, education, interaction between citizens and so forth for total connection. By establishing an extensive system for dialog, the policy is designed to foster collaboration and consensus while reducing barriers and conflicts
Speaker Lai also noted that the “Five + Two New Industrial Development Policy proposed by President Tsai Ying-Wen is to create more opportunities to propel traditional industries to upgrade. However, the path of transition is not an easy one for enterprises. Just as President Tsai put it, “We must shoulder the hardship and stresses together, no matter how great it may be; we must be patient, because we are headed in the right direction.” The council will also relay responses and suggestions from these businesses to the central government and hopefully the government will strive to formulate policies that foster cultural respect and investment related regulations between the two nations so as to offer better assurances in terms of economy and rights for Taiwanese businesses in other countries. Given the fact that Tainan has been entrusted with the mission as the designated region for green energy development, the city council has pledged to collaborate with the city government by connecting local legislators and the industry to operate in conjunction with President Tsai’s policies. With full commitment and hard work, the council hopes to take Tainan to new milestones with the collaboration of all involved.
