TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) emphasized the critical importance of strengthening the island's industrial resilience and national economic power during an official address on Tuesday (April 1). The president's remarks came in response to rapidly changing international trade dynamics and mounting challenges, particularly the threat of low-cost product dumping from what Taiwanese officials term "red supply chains" — a reference to manufacturing networks connected to mainland China, Taiwan's largest trading partner and political rival.
The president's comments came during a high-profile meeting with the 32nd Asian Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce delegation (第32屆亞洲台灣商會聯合總會回國訪問團) at the Presidential Office in Taipei. During the session, Lai expressed heartfelt gratitude to overseas Taiwanese entrepreneurs for their role in showcasing Taiwan's economic strength and competitive advantages on the international stage. He seized the opportunity to extend a formal invitation for more Taiwanese businesses operating abroad to consider returning to their homeland and investing in Taiwan's growing economy, positioning such homecoming investments as both patriotic and financially prudent.
Bolstering his economic message with third-party validation, Lai cited the Heritage Foundation's prestigious economic rankings, where Taiwan has maintained its position as fourth globally in economic freedom for three consecutive years — an achievement the president characterized as reflecting strong international trust in Taiwan's investment climate and regulatory environment. With evident pride, the president highlighted Taiwan's remarkable economic growth rate, which reached a three-year high of 4.59% last year. This impressive figure not only positioned Taiwan as the leading economy among the Four Asian Tigers — a group that includes Singapore, South Korea, and Hong Kong — but also outpaced the growth rates of major global economic powers including Japan, the United States, and leading European Union nations.
Looking toward the future, President Lai reiterated his administration's commitment to extending the "Three Major Plans for Investing in Taiwan" (投資台灣三大方案) until 2027, a policy framework designed to incentivize domestic and international investment in the island nation. He also announced the launch of the ambitious "Trillion Investment National Development Plan" (兆元投資國家發展方案) scheduled for implementation this year, signaling Taiwan's determination to accelerate economic growth despite regional tensions. In his concluding remarks, Lai emphasized the Asian Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce's crucial role as an effective bridge between the government and Taiwanese businesses operating throughout Asia, praising their ongoing contributions to both Taiwan's economic diplomacy and its domestic prosperity.
