by Xin Yage

The island is fourth worldwide and second in Asia after Singapore. Strong competition in the area, especially with South Korea Helping young people to be more creative and better justice in the workplace.

Taipei (AsiaNews) - Taiwan is the best investment destination in Asia, after Singapore, but even with these prospects, the island should focus more on young people and seek new challenges in the world of work.

These are some of the findings presented yesterday at the Business Climate Survey 2013, during which the Business Environment Risk Intelligence SA (Beri), presented the economic data for Taiwan. The meeting was also attended by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham).

At the beginning of each New Year, not only is economic data published, but, more importantly, the growth prospects for the immediate future are assessed and especially the positive or negative perceptions that any economy can create among investors and in trading partners.

Current BERI data for Taiwan rates it the fourth best investment destination in the world, the second in Asia just behind Singapore. The assessment is based on three parameters: operational risk, foreign exchange risk and political risk. For the first two there is no problem, for political risk (potential conflict with China), it must be said that it has dropped from seventh to eighth place in the world.

Taiwan's Ministry for Economic Affairs, in an overall assessment noted the influence of the application of the second generation of the public health system and the rise in prices of other services. The Ministrial analysis of the also pointed out to the risk of failing to offer incentives to the younger generation, and not only for enterprises, due to the rise in prices of housing and basic services such as electricity and water.

With regard to foreign investment, in contrast to the BERI ranking, a less optimistic assessment came from U.S. for companies operating in Taiwan. The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in yesterday's press conference, pointed out that Taiwan needs to re-launch to counter the march of its neighbors, especially South Korea. Despite the elimination of many bureaucratic procedures and incentives for foreign investment, competition from western Asian countries is very strong and no distractions can be allowed in ensuring long term viability.

Alan Eusden (see photo), President of the Chamber of Commerce, spoke of concern over the lack of human resources in Taiwan. Local talent, the young Taiwanese, are hard workers, trustworthy, very well educated, productive and loyal, but they need more creativity and above all initiative. The call is aimed primarily at university presidents and the heads of the Ministry of Education to fit into the curricula more opportunities for foreign exchanges and creative collaboration with outside universities to make the young people of the island more proactive and more ready to be employed in firms .

Professor Zhu Songling (朱松岭 老师), assistant professor of sociology at the Taiwan Normal University in Taipei (师大), advised the need to reflect on the state of the world of work, especially on the policies of justice and equity between men and women workers, between natives and immigrants: "Looking to the immediate future, women and foreign graduates will form an increasingly important backbone of the Taiwanese economy and a stimulus to an opening that all the young people here are sorely in need of."

 

• taiwan
• economy
• growth
• foreigninvestment
• youth