06/15/98 TAIWAN AIMS TO BECOME A SCIENCE ISLAND (int'l edition)

TAIWAN AIMS TO BECOME A SCIENCE ISLAND (int'l edition)

I agree with ''The Taiwan touch'' (Asian Business, May 25). The main reason that Taiwan has been able to resist sustaining harm from Southeast Asia's economic turbulence is the success of its high-tech industry. This success is attributable in part to two factors: Taiwan's government promotes policies, such as tax credits and loan advantages, that are favorable to the high-tech industry. Following the success of the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park, which is similar to Silicon Valley, the South Taiwan Science-based Industrial Park is now under construction. In the coming century, the government hopes to transform Taiwan into a science island.
In addition, Taiwan's entrepreneurial spirit, venture-capital funds, and companies attract excellent talent, along with stocks that help people share in the booming industry.
The goal of becoming a science island still is a long way off, in comparison with the developed countries. We, the people of Taiwan, will do our best to achieve this goal.
Ya-Chin Tsai
Taipei