Message from The Chairman
CNAIC Chairman Thomas T. L. Wu’s Blueprint for the Future
Advancing Taiwan’s Economy through Four Core Pillars
Amid the rapidly changing global dynamics and escalating climate risks, corporates have faced a severe test for their operational resilience. To accommodate the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2050 net-zero emissions target, trends of regional economic integration, and mounting global inflationary pressures, it is critical for the industries to adopt forward-looking planning and seize transformation opportunities in the pursuit of sustainable development. As the business community leader, The Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC) will continue to uphold its role with focus on four core pillars, namely: (1) Optimize the investment and business environment; (2) Deepen global economic and trade cooperation; (3) Strengthen the momentum for business innovation; and (4) Shape a sustainable and shared future. By leveraging its influence, CNAIC will advocate for the interests of industries, facilitate the public-private dialogues, and help Taiwanese enterprises connect with the global economy. We look forward to working closely with our member companies to move forward under the spirit of “Beyond 70: Creating New Milestones Together,” and in the meantime, jointly witnessing Taiwan’s resurgence and being a part of its success!
1. Optimize The Investment and Business Environment
Over the past 70 years since its establishment, CNAIC has witnessed every critical stage of Taiwan’s economic development and has consistently served as a bridge for communication between the business sector and the government. In recent years, the global supply chains have been remarkably reshaped due to the U.S.-China tensions in trade and technology as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, which particularly underscores Taiwan’s importance in terms of geopolitical strategies. As such, CNAIC will keep soliciting insights and proposals from industry representatives and think-tank experts on key issues that are of concern to our members, such as “industrial development and labor policies,” “energy transition and circular economy,” “taxation and regulatory measures,” and “international trade and cross-strait relations.” These valuable inputs serve as the foundation of our policy recommendations and will be duly presented to the government as their reference for public policymaking through our regular activities like Industrial and Commercial Breakfast/Luncheon Meetings. We also support the government in building an open, transparent, efficient, and secure business environment to attract more international high-tech companies to expand their investments in Taiwan.
2. Deepen Global Economic and Trade Cooperation
CNAIC has long been devoted to strengthening Taiwan’s economic exchanges and trade ties with other countries and Mainland China, aiming to help member companies explore the global market. Through promoting “Track II Diplomacy” in the capacity as an apex business organization, we not only assist the government to expand the scope for international economic and trade negotiations, but also reduce the risk of regional economic marginalization. While advancing its cooperation with major business organizations worldwide by signing MoUs, CNAIC will remain committed to assisting Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) with proactive advocacy campaigns. In addition, we approve of the government’s efforts in removing barriers to trade and investment by forging bilateral or multilateral agreements on trade, taxation, and investment protection with key trade partners. At the same time, CNAIC closely follows the developments in major economic and trade organizations/frameworks, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), as well as the political, economic, and investment environment changes in Mainland China, serving as a stabilizing force in cross-strait economic relations. It is our mandate to support Taiwanese enterprises in grasping global strategic trends, enabling them to facilitate their integration into international markets.
3. Strengthen The Momentum for Business Innovation
Taiwan has developed an innovation-driven economy given the advantages of its comprehensive supply-chain ecosystem in the semiconductor and ICT industries, the continued expansion and penetration of 5G infrastructure, as well as the rich and diverse culture. As the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the growth of the digital economy, CNAIC will urge the government to invest more resources in strengthening digital infrastructure and empowering corporates with the adoption of digital innovations in a bid to accelerate industry transformation and the development of diversified applications. Furthermore, we advocate for a more innovation-friendly environment with due measures, including regulatory reviews and deregulation, tax and investment incentives, ensured information security and personal data protection, and enhanced talent cultivation. These approaches aim to encourage the innovation of technological and business models and to push for the integration of service and manufacturing sectors, which would help foster the development of the new economy.
4. Shape A Sustainable and Shared Future
In response to the climate emergency, a global consensus on achieving the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 has been formed, which is also included in Taiwan’s Climate Change Response Act. Since the transition to net-zero emissions has become an inevitable trend, CNAIC will request for necessary assistance and resources from the government to enhance the resilience of the business community by means of boosting the establishment of low-carbon infrastructure, promoting climate-related legislation, supporting enterprises in implementing carbon reduction initiatives, and developing low-carbon/negative-carbon technologies and new energy solutions. With a diverse membership spanning from technology manufacturing, financial services, transportation and tourism to agriculture and food industries, CNAIC will work together with the government based on the “leading-by-example” model and maintain close attention to issues like global climate governance, ESG, carbon pricing, sustainable finance, and food security. CNAIC is ready to contribute to global sustainability by encouraging the active participation of the business community and the public which would lead to the joint collaboration among the industry, government, and academia. It is our goal to realize a shared future where economic development and environmental sustainability strike a balance.