Economic zone with coastal China recommended

Lai Cheng-yi, CICD president, said more jobs have to be created to cope with the impending recession triggered by the global financial crisis.

Chen Tain-jy, chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, took part in a CICD seminar, where Lai called on the government to work toward a regional economic integration to provide 150,000 to 200,000 jobs a year.

He wants Guangzhou, Amoy and Shanghai to be included in the common economic zone.

“Now is the time to achieve that economic integration,” Lai said. “We shouldn't miss the chance.”

Altogether 121 projects were recommended at the seminar.

Aside from the common economic zone, Lai recommended that the government improve tourism to attract more Chinese tourists, expedite the establishment of special economic and trade districts, and lay down a new population policy.

Chinese tourists are arriving in Taiwan after direct charter flights were started, although “More has to be done to make it easier to come visit Taiwan,” Lai said.

Special economic and trade districts have long been planned to ensure smooth flow of manpower and merchandise, Lai said. “They have to start operation as soon as practicable,” he urged.

Taiwan's population may stop to grow in two decades. “We will have to have a new population policy, under which either the birthrate has to be increased or more immigrants are allowed to come,” Lai said.

Moreover, Lai called for an earliest possible conclusion of an economic cooperation framework agreement between Taiwan and China.

Without the ECFA, Taiwan's exports will be taxed in China and all ASEAN countries starting January 1 next year.

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