Taipei, Nov. 6 (CNA) The government will provide "one-step service" for local and foreign investors facing difficulties finding land, with a platform to be set up to bring landowners and investors together, Premier Lai Ching-te (賴清德) said Monday.

According to the plan, Invest Taiwan, a service center under the Industrial Development Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, will be responsible for the "one-step service."

"Once established, (staff of the) 'one-step service' will take the initiative to inquire about their needs and offer help," Lai said, as he unveiled the government's plan to ease the shortage of land, one of five shortages business leaders have identified along with shortages of power, water, manpower and skilled workers.

Lai proposed three strategies to meet an expected increase in the demand for land, estimated at 1,266 hectares by the end of 2022.

The strategies consist of making public land available for rent at preferential rates, encouraging private landowners to release land left vacant, and setting up new industrial parks or offering incentives for factories to expand by building their facilities higher rather than seeking out new land.

They are expected to free up a total of 1,442 hectares of land to meet demand.

In response to questions, Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫), deputy economic affairs minister, said the measures are expected to cost the government NT$13.5 billion (US$444 million).

He expected the measures to stimulate economic growth, but he did not give a forecast of its potential impact on growth. 

(By Shih Hsiu-chuan)
Enditem/ls