Francis Liang

Francis Liang or Liang Kuo-hsin (Chinese: 梁國新; pinyin: Liáng Guóxīn; born 17 December 1951) is a Taiwanese politician. He was the Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs (MOEA) in 2012-2014.[2] He currently serves as Chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) which, as the foremost non-profit trade promotion organization in Taiwan since 1970, assists Taiwan businesses and manufacturers reinforcing their international competitiveness in all major foreign markets.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Liang.
Francis Liang
Liang Kuo-hsin
梁國新
Taipei Representative to Singapore
Assumed office
December 2016
Preceded byAntonio Chiang
Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs of the Republic of China
In office
July 2012 – February 2014[1]
MinisterChang Chia-juch
ViceWoody Duh, Cho Shih-chao
Succeeded byWoody Duh
Vice Minister of Economic Affairs of the Republic of China
In office
October 2009 – June 2012
MinisterShih Yen-shiang
Personal details
Born17 December 1951 (1951-12-17) (age 69)
NationalityRepublic of China
Alma materNational Taiwan University
University of Miami

Education

Liang received his M.B.A. from the University of Miami and his bachelor's degree in Law from the National Taiwan University. He also undertook postgraduate studies in law at the National Taiwan University.

Political career

Before holding the ministerial post in the MOEA, Liang has held several positions, such as Chief of Staff to the Vice Presidential Office, Head of economic division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States and Deputy Director of Bureau of Foreign Trade of the MOEA.

Since joining the government in 1978, Liang has held several key domestic and overseas positions in which he applied his expertise in international economic law and trade negotiations to promote Taiwan’s economic development and expand the overseas markets for Taiwan's export sectors.

During his tenure as Vice Minister of Economic Affairs, and concurrently Chief Trade Negotiator, and later as Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, Liang played instrumental roles in Taiwan's signing of economic agreements with other economies, including the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in 2010, the bilateral investment accord with Japan in 2011, the Cross-Straits Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement in 2012, the economic cooperation agreement with New Zealand (ANZTEC), and the economic partnership agreement with Singapore (ASTEP) in 2013. Liang also co-chaired the first three Regular Meetings of the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Committee as Chief Delegate from Taiwan and actively promoted closer Taiwan-US and Taiwan-EU economic and trade relations.

In recognition of Liang's achievements, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) conferred upon him the Medal of Economic Contribution, First Order, on February 13, 2014, making him the first government official ever to receive the honor.

Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs, R.O.C

During Liang's concurrent tenures as Vice Minister of Economic Affairs and Chief Trade Negotiator, and later as Deputy Minister, Liang played an instrumental role in the signing of the Cross- Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in 2010, a bilateral investment accord with Japan in 2011, the Cross-Straits Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement in 2012, an economic cooperation agreement with New Zealand (ANZTEC) and an economic partnership agreement with Singapore (ASTEP) in 2013. He also co-chaired the first three Regular Meetings of the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Committee as Chief Delegate from Taiwan, and actively promoted closer economic and trade relations with the US and the European Union.

Chairman of Taiwan External Trade Development Council

In February 2014, Liang tendered his resignation from the Ministry citing health reasons. However, he was later appointed as an adviser to the Executive Yuan. In August that year, Liang was appointed the chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council.[3]

Since then, Liang has led a team of over 1,200 trained specialists across its Taipei headquarter, 4 domestic branch offices and 60 overseas branch offices worldwide, organizing more than 300 overseas trade promotion events and 40 international trade shows each year.

References
  1. "Labor council head to run new labor ministry". Taipei Times. 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2014-04-29.
  2. "Ministry of Economic Affairs,R.O.C. - Francis Kuo-Hsin Liang". Moea.gov.tw. Archived from the original on 2013-10-30. Retrieved 2013-09-05.
  3. "外貿協會董事長 梁國新接任 (Francis Liang to Become Chairman of Taiwan External Trade Development Council)". Central News Agency. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
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