A global investment-solicitation initiative aimed at attracting NT$1.8 trillion of investment capital over the next six years is scheduled to be implemented in the near future, the country's top economic planner said Thursday. Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD) Chairwoman Christina Liu said at a Cabinet meeting that an inter-government agency committee to solicit global investment, as well as a service center to offer services to potential foreign investors, both under the Executive Yuan, will become operational Aug. 8. Liu, who will head the committee, said it will be composed of the chiefs of various government agencies, leaders of the country's eight major business and industrial associations and representatives of enterprises, and is set to hold its first meeting the day after it begins operations. The committee will then submit an overall investment invitation plan titled 'Investing in Taiwan' by the end of September, Liu said. Prior to July 20, various government agencies will roll out their plans for attracting foreign investment, and the CEPD, along with other agencies, will then select seven of these as flagship plans, Liu added. The committee is scheduled to give three investment briefings on Aug. 23, 27 and 30 in Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung, respectively, with President Ma Ying-jeou and Vice President Vincent Siew expected to attend. The diplomatic corps in Taiwan, foreign-invested banks, foreign chambers of commerce in Taiwan, domestic banks, international venture capital fund managers and would-be investors will be invited to attend the briefings, according to Liu. Ahead of these briefings, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) will convene a team in late July headed by Minister without Portfolio Yiin Chii-ming to seek investment from Japan, she said. After being briefed, Premier Wu Den-yih said that promoting investment and boosting employment are the government's two major administration tasks, adding that following the establishment of the committee, the MOEA should also develop standard operating procedures for investment solicitation and help government agencies to train professionals in this area. The premier also suggested that the CEPD should coordinate relevant government agencies to set up a global investment-solicitation website. He also ordered government bodies to review and seek ways to improve Taiwan's investment environment and remove investment barriers. 