|
|
|
|
Five decades of concerted efforts of the nation have created a widely recognized economic miracle in Taiwan. The island has been converted from an agrarian economy to an industrialized one, amassing foreign exchange reserves of over US$200 billion. Taiwan has at the same time gradually moved from authoritarianism toward democratization. The recent change of administration in the government through popular election is another big stride toward that direction.
With the advent of the eventful new millennium, however, Taiwan has to face a series of new challenges posed by economic liberalization, globalization, and ever-keener competition resulting from incessant technology innovations. On the other hand, the strained cross-Strait relations cause increased pressure for its isolation from the international community. Under the circumstances, the private sector has to play a more important role in the international arena. |
| |
The private sector has made substantial contributions in recent years toward enhancing the international visibility of R.O.C. and its foreign relations. In the absence of proper coordination, however, activities conducted by different private organizations have often ended up in duplication of efforts or controversies. It is therefore felt in many quarters in the country that there is a cogent need for the creation of a new private organization, which is representative of the country, to coordinate and administer all efforts in promoting economic ties and business relationships with foreign countries.
The task of putting the needed private organization into concrete form was entrusted to Dr. Jeffrey L. S. Koo, Chairman of Chinatrust Commercial Bank, as well as then Chairman of Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce and Euro-Asia Trade Organization. With the full support of the government and business leaders, the Chinese International Economic Cooperation Association (CIECA) was thus formally inaugurated on August 9, 2000 to play a bigger role in undertaking the promotion of bilateral economic ties with the rest of the world.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
