The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council (ABAC) will hold its second meeting for the year in the ROC’s capital Taipei from May 18 to 21.
“The goal of the event is to discuss the issue of knowledge-based growth and draw up a plan for APEC consideration,” Cher Wang, Taiwan’s ABAC delegate and HTC Corp. chairwoman, said April 26.
Wang’s remarks were made at a news conference attended by two other council delegates from Taiwan: Cathay Financial Holdings Co. Ltd. Chairman Tsai Hong-tu and Mitac-Synnex Group Chairman Matthew Miau. The triumvirate was nominated for APEC service by ROC President Ma Ying-jeou last March.
According to Tsai, Taipei’s reputation as a city of creativity, innovation and cultural diversity serves as a dynamic backdrop for the upcoming agenda-setting meeting of key ABAC business leaders.
“The meeting will be a good opportunity for Taiwan to make its presence felt in global financial affairs,” he said.
Echoing sentiments expressed by Tsai, Wang said given that accumulating knowledge has been a key determinant of Taiwan’s economic growth, the nation is more than willing to share its experience with other APEC members.
“Policies such as encouraging overseas Taiwanese to contribute to Taiwan and establishing the Industrial Technology Research Institute play a key role in cultivating the island’s talents,” she said.
In addition, Tsai said Taiwan’s successful financing policy for small and medium enterprises will be a focus point of all remaining ABAC meetings planned this year.
The council was created in November 1995 to provide advice on business-related issues and specific areas of cooperation. Comprising three members of the private sector from each economy, ABAC represents a diverse range of business sectors.
The group’s first meeting for the year took place in Melbourne Feb. 9 to 12, with remaining sessions scheduled for Bangkok August 24 to 27 and Yokohama Nov. 8 to 10. (CYH-JSM)