News
Taiwan puts forth
NT$608 billion infrastructure plan to boost economy
03/23/2021
Taipei, March 23 (CNA) Taiwan's government has allocated NT$608 billion
(US$21.33 billion) for spending on public infrastructure this year, in a bid to
stimulate the economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Development
Council (NDC) said Monday.
While Taiwan has been largely successful at fighting COVID-19, some industries have been hard hit as a result of the pandemic, which has prompted the government to invest heavily in infrastructure as a way of boosting employment, said NDC head Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫).
The public infrastructure allocation, which has exceeded NT$600 billion per year for the first time, will fund projects such as the Taoyuan Aerotropolis, the acquisition of new trains by Taiwan Railways, the installation of air conditioners in government schools, and improvement of the country's water collection and supply systems, the NDC said.
On the Taoyuan Aerotropolis project, more than NT$60 billion will be allocated in September for the acquisition of land, the NDC said.
The 4,500-hectare Taoyuan Aerotropolis project, near the country's main gateway Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, is aimed at creating a modern industrial logistics center, development zone and urban residential area.
In the first two months of 2021, government public works spending was NT$54.6 billion, an increase of NT$3.5 billion from a year earlier, but it accounted for only 8.98 percent of the total allocation for the year, according to Kung.
He said the relevant government agencies are being urged to expedite the pace of their work on infrastructure projects.
(By Pan Tzu-yu and Frances Huang)
Link, Taiwan puts forth NT$608 billion infrastructure plan to boost economy - Focus Taiwan
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