In recent years, each country has had to increasingly respond to globalization. Now that Taiwan has entered the World Trade Organization in 2001 and its industrial economic structures faced a new wave of urgent demands for freedom and internationalization, how can the country effectively transform global structural challenges into opportunities? While both competing and cooperating in Asia as a whole, how should Taiwan act as a regional hub and center for integrating capital through development amidst global economic changes?

For these reasons, from 2001 the Epoch Foundation formally established a partnership with a well-known European think tank, the Evian Group, which focuses on the global economy and free trade. Every year the two organizations have jointly held symposiums on topics such as globalization and investment. These events invite domestic leaders from industry, government, and academia, as well as influential international leaders, to both overview Asia’s political and economic situation and examine the development strategies of Taiwan and other principle East Asian countries. During the discussions the European viewpoint is also introduced, benefiting the exchanges between Taiwan’s economic, trade, and foreign affairs departments and leaders of public opinion.

Established in Switzerland to promote worldwide free trade, investment, and related industrial and economic globalization policies, the Evian Group stems from the efforts of Professor Jean-Pierre Lehmann from the International Institute of Management Development (IMD). The group, founded in 1995, aims to connect European, Asian, and American leaders. Members presently include the European Commission; individuals from the Foreign Trade Departments of Switzerland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea; Goldman Sachs; the Chrysler car company, Price Waterhouse Coopers, in addition to the Epoch Foundation and the IMD.

http://www.eviangroup.org/

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http://www.eviangroup.org/events/young.php