The head of a new government taskforce says there is no conflict between President-elect Tsai Ing-wen’s “New Go South Policy” and calls to reform Taiwan’s investment environment.
Tsai’s incoming government has appointed former foreign minister Huang Chih-fang to head a new office to promote its New Go South Policy. The policy aims to help Taiwan’s businesses gain a stronger foothold in India and Southeast Asia.
The “go south” part of the policy’s name refers to the fact that these countries are south of Taiwan geographically. The New Go South Policy is named after an earlier Go South Policy, which expanded Taiwanese investment in Southeast Asia in the 1990s.
The policy has been criticized by some members of the business community. The head of the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce, Taiwan, has said improving the environment for domestic investors should be the government’s priority.
On Thursday, Huang said there is nothing that makes expanding Taiwanese business abroad incompatible with improving conditions for domestic investors.
Lawmakers meanwhile have expressed concerns that the taskforce may begin dictating policy to the Cabinet.
Huang responded by saying that his taskforce will be a platform linking government agencies, the private sector, business groups, and Taiwanese businesses overseas, as well as educational and technological institutions.