Government Adopts NT$80 Billion Eight-Year Flood Prevention and Emerging Industries Plans

At a meeting of the Executive Yuan on March 14, Premier Frank Hsieh directed the adoption of an NT$80 billion program to speed up the work of flood prevention. At the same time he gave instructions to implement the Emerging Industries Development Plan, which pinpoints automobiles, panels, and broadband as key industries for development with the aim of expanding domestic demand and strengthening economic growth.

　　The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) notes that, in the past, NT$1 billion was allocated each year to subsidize flood prevention projects at the local level at a rate that would take an estimated 80 years or more to fully resolve all flooding problems. The new plan is designed to provide a holistic solution to the problems within eight years at a cost of NT$80 billion, and to protect the environment and the ecology while carrying out river rectification.

　　The flood prevention program, which was proposed by the MOEA, calls for the priority rectification of 22 rivers and streams requiring urgent action, the building of 50 regional drainage systems, and the construction of 51 kilometers of sea dikes within three years.

　　In addition, the emphasis of future economic development will be placed on promoting the development of emerging industries. In the flat-panel industry, panel equipments and upstream materials will be chosen as key items for development; in the auto industry, planning will focus on the organization of whole-vehicle design companies; and in telecommunications, deregulation will be accelerated to facilitate the development of the broadband industry.

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