ABSTRACT
Taiwan has a small geographic area and limited natural resources. It is one-sixth of the size of Missouri. Three-quarters of its land is mountainous, and only one-quarter of the land is arable. Agricultural production accounted for only 2.5 percent of real gross domestic product (GDP) in 1999. Although Taiwan does have deposits of coal, limestone, marble, and natural gas, it is not richly endowed by nature. More than 90 percent of its energy needs are met by imports aHnd its rapid industrialization has relied heavily on imports of raw materials. However, Taiwan with a population of 23 million has an ample supply of human resources.
