As Hsueh Yu-chi, the former ROC ambassador to the Republic of Korea, once remarked, "There was once a time when our people followed the path trampled out by diplomatic missions overseas, now they are following the road laid down by the engineering profession in moving out over the world."

Since its establishment in 1972 up until the present, the RSEA's Indonesian branch office in Jakarta has done US$320 million worth of engineering work, a volume which ranks second among all RSEA overseas branches. The projects involved in this sum have included a range covering the construction of roads, superhighways, dams, steel mills, and others.

One of these projects, the construction of the Rarem Dam in Southern Sumatra, was completed in 1984, a full eight months ahead of schedule. This news created quite a stir within Indonesia at the time, as never before had any other firm recorded the early completion of a project. As a result the technological skill of the RSEA became the object of much affirmative acclaim.

Technology is certainly their ace in the hole, but complete reliance on this point alone cannot satisfy the requirements of competition for engineering contracts in overseas markets. Over the past few years, overseas competition has become quite fierce, with the rivalry of developed countries being especially ominous.

The Indonesian government, in the interest of protecting and developing indigenous manufacturers, has recently made a number of policy changes. These include the elimination of favored status for foreign manufacturing concerns, reductions in agreements allowing for the duty-free import of machinery and materials, the raising of domestic wages, and restrictions on the import of foreign labor resources. There have also been restrictions placed on the freedom of foreign manufacturers to bid independently for contracts, so that they are now required to bid in cooperation with local manufacturing concerns. "Picking up new contracts is getting tougher all the time," says Sun Kwang-chung, general manager of the Indonesian branch of the RSEA, with an exasperated sigh.

UP north in Singapore, the ROC put in nine separate bids for the construction of their mass rapid transit subway system. Although Taiwan came up with the lowest bid on several of these occasions, it was still not able to win the contract due to financing requirements.

Well, if you can't move the mountain, move the road. At the time of the bidding for this project, the Singaporean government was pursuing policies which would encourage technological transfers into the country. Therefore, the RSEA branch office in Singapore worked out an arrangement with the locally based Hock Lian Seng Engineering Company whereby they would bid in cooperation, working together under the name of a joint operation. RSEA also promised to provide technological and manpower support for the project, and in this way was finally awarded the contract in January of last year.

It's no wonder that Lin Jung-feng, who is usually responsible for estimating contractual costs, is constantly on edge. He confesses: "While on the one hand we worry about not getting the contracts, on the other hand we worry that we might get them! If we don't get projects, we don't make money; if we get a project with the lowest bid, we have to worry about the possibility of eventually losing money on the project."

The RSEA, perhaps more than other concerns, can not really afford to lose money on its contracts. The truth is that the RSEA's administrative costs are exceptionally high. As RSEA president Ch'en Yu has stated, the RSEA shoulders the responsibility for several hundreds of millions of dollars invested in the establishment of veterans' homes and retirement funds, so each employee must put a 300 percent effort into his work in order to be able to pay for this capital burden.

Because of these lopsided administrative costs, in recent years some restrictions have been placed on the freedom of RSEA overseas employees to bring their families along with them, so that now many of these engineers and technicians are going it alone when they take up an overseas post.

Although it is possible to earn perhaps twice the income overseas that one would make at home, the living environment is a hundred times more difficult to adjust to. "Aside from technological know-how, one has got to be brave," says Fang Chih-wei, project manager for the Surabaya-Malang Highway project. Otherwise, one may be upset by the strange new surroundings.

Letter writing is the most frequent form of recreation for these "bachelorized" family men, especially in Indonesia, where the publication of Chinese-language materials has been banned. "Without even one Chinese newspaper or magazine, I really begin to miss Chinese characters," moans Liu Tieh-pao, chief accountant at the RSEA Indonesian branch office. The only resort is to read and write letters in order to "brush up on" one's Chinese.

Singapore is comparatively easy to adjust to. The living conditions for engineers here are much better, so that their spirit improves proportionately, although the cost of living is relatively high as well.

As concerns working conditions, especially in the area of administration, dealing with the Indonesians often requires a fair amount of tact. "The character of the Indonesians is quite mild, but they are especially concerned with 'keeping face'," says Tsai Ch'eng-ho, an RSEA engineer at the Cilegon cold-rolling steel mill. If local people are responsible for some mistake, a foreign administrator had best not make an issue of it in public, or the perceived assault is liable to boomerang as one is labelled a "racist." Once this label is affixed it is extremely difficult to come once again to friendly terms.

In Singapore, where wages are relatively high, workers are accustomed to taking both a morning and an afternoon "tea break." They also begin to grumble whenever working hours go into overtime, so that serving as an administrator here becomes quite a challenge.

In addition to these problems, the government of Singapore is very conscientious about environmental protection, so that related problems at construction sights become of special concern. If a backup of water at a construction site gives rise to mosquito and fly-related problems, it can bring legal difficulties; if, when mixing cement, the subsequent dust is perceived as an air pollution problem, legal action may be taken; the noise level when driving piles may not exceed eighty decibels; cutting trees requires the approval of the government; and after a project is completed the surrounding environment must be returned to its original state. As far as the public is concerned, this is "virtuous government," but for the RSEA these policies can mean extra headaches.

"Do unto others as they do unto you!" quotes one engineer. "If they're going to do everything by the book, well, we can play that game too."

"A good engineer needs not only to know how to build roads, he must also know how to negotiate," sighs Fang Chih-wei. Competing with others in the international marketplace requires vigorous and convincing argument--"there's no room for being polite!"

Fan Kuo-chang, project manager of RSEA-HLS, feels very strongly that depending solely on civil engineering skills to compete in this market will eventually leave the ROC in a weak position. He says that in addition to civil engineering. Taiwan must strengthen its international image in the area of electrical engineering as well.

Indonesia can serve as a ready example. The direction of Indonesia's construction policies, outside of the area of transportation, have already turned towards hydropower and electrical power and consumer-oriented industries. "We must expand the range of our engineering abilities if we are going to remain competitive." When RSEA's Indonesian branch general manager Sun Kwang-chung reaches this point, his eyes light up with a feeling of pride. "Southeast Asia is one wide running track: all we need is effort and we will certainly have a chance at those contracts!

"It's time to prepare for the next battle!"

[Picture Caption]

RSEA workers toil under the clear blue Singaporean sky to construct a line for the mass rapid transit subway system.

These are the "10,000 flags" of Singaporean apartment dwellers. Look familiar?

The Surabaya-Malang Highway, which has been praised by Indonesian newspapers as the best road in the country, was one of the RSEA's many Indonesian projects.

A scene along the Surabaya-Malang Highway.

Bali is a favorite vacation spot for RSEA employees stationed in Indonesia and Singapore. The picture shows the "holy springs" at a temple of the same name on the island.

It may not be the "green, green grass of home," but the environment at the living quarters for the Surabaya project provide certain comforts nonetheless.

RSEA employees at the Cilegon steel mill fuel up for a hard day at work.

Acting general manager at the Cilegon steel mill David Wu and wife find snapshots of family and friends to be the most effective cure for homesickness.

These are the "10,000 flags" of Singaporean apartment dwellers. Look familiar?

The Surabaya-Malang Highway, which has been praised by Indonesian newspapers as the best road in the country, was one of the RSEA's many Indonesian projects.

A scene along the Surabaya-Malang Highway.

Bali is a favorite vacation spot for RSEA employees stationed in Indonesia and Singapore. The picture shows the "holy springs" at a temple of the same name on the island.

It may not be the "green, green grass of home," but the environment at the living quarters for the Surabaya project provide certain comforts nonetheless.

RSEA employees at the Cilegon steel mill fuel up for a hard day at work.

Acting general manager at the Cilegon steel mill David Wu and wife find snapshots of family and friends to be the most effective cure for homesickness.