The “free-economy exemplary zone,” being drafted by the Cabinet-level Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), will consist of the five major centers of innovative integration, new-generation international logistics, international-talent cultivation, Asian serious-disease and tourism-medical care, and value-added transport and sales of agricultural products, reported Yiin Chii-ming, minister of the CEPD yesterday (Dec. 25).
At the year-end press conference of the CEPD, Yiin pointed out that the CEPD will pick three to five cities for the establishment of the “free-economy exemplary zone,” with Kaohsiung being the first candidate. The “free-economy exemplary zone” will admit new-type of industries and new operational modes by removing existing legal barriers, thereby facilitating the solicitation of investments. A statute for the “free-economy exemplary zone” will be forwarded by the Executive Yuan to the Legislative Yuan as a priority bill in the new session of the Legislative Yuan next year.
With the approval of the government, a specific city can develop “free-economy exemplary zone” with a single center or multiple centers, depending on the municipal advantages.
According to the planning of the CEPD, the ultimate goal of the “free-economy exemplary zone” plan is to develop Taiwan into an “Asia-Pacific free economic and trade center.”
