p., Taiwan to southern Taiwan would be difficult, but the ministry will continue to study the matter. He also said that although the headquarters of the two state-owned enterprises are not in southern Taiwan, they attach great importance to serving the residents in southern Taiwan.
Chen's remarks came after President Chen Shui-bian said recently that instead of talking about relocating the capital to Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, it is better to study the feasibility of relocating such government agencies as the Council of Agriculture (COA) or the Council of the Labor Affairs to southern Taiwan.
Premier Su Tseng-chang also said that the government is considering relocating the Fisheries Administration under the COA to Kaohsiung to boost fishery development.
The headquarters of five out of seven enterprises under the MOEA -- Taiwan Sugar Co. (Taisugar), Taiwan Water Corp. CSBC Corp., Taiwan, Tang Eng Stainless Steel Plant, and Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. -- are currently located in central or southern Taiwan.
Only the headquarters of Taipower and CPC Corp. Taiwan under the MOEA remain in Taipei.
Chen noted the government does encourage state-owned enterprises to relocate to southern Taiwan, with Taisugar responding to the call last year.
The ministry has in the past studied relocating Taipower and CPC Corp. Taiwan to southern Taiwan, although the studies had shown great difficulties in relocating them.
Chen also denied reports that the ministry's Small and Medium Enterprises will be relocated to southern Taiwan, saying that the major operations of the agency are in Taipei, although it serves the whole nation.
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