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Immigrant kids potential market leaders: ChenBy Ann Yu,The China Post TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Premier Sean Chen instructed yesterday at an Executive Yuan session meeting that more emphasis be placed on new immigrants, stating that they could have the potential to become the leaders of emerging markets.
December 28, 2012, 12:09 am TWN According to the Executive Yuan, Taiwan's population structure has shifted over the past two decades, with the influx of immigrant spouses from mainland China and Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. The premier said that immigrants are important contributors to Taiwan society's structure, as they provide labor support in health care and industrial sectors. Chen said that Taiwan should embrace these ethnic diversities in providing foreigners the support they need. According to spokesperson Cheng Li-wen, Chen advised government bureaus to better support the immigrants with counseling services, job opportunities, social welfare benefits, diploma certification and education for their future generations. He also added that education for Taiwanese citizens to respect diversity is important in fostering a harmonious society. Chen stressed that education for immigrants is crucial for the development of Taiwan's industries in the future, as their ability to speak in their native languages would help in communicating on an international level. As 90 percent of immigrants are spouses, Chen urged related bureaus to focus on the education programs of their children to strengthen their native-speaking advantages for enhancing Taiwan's society in the future. According to the Executive Yuan, a program launched in 2005 to advance counseling services, educational assistance and other schemes designed for immigrant spouses, costing around NT$3 billion every 10 years. Reportedly, New Taipei City ranks first in the number of foreign spouses at 90,647, while Kaohsiung ranks second with 55,548 spouses. Taipei ranked third at 51,921 spouses while the foreign spouse rate dropped to 29,000 in Taichung.
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