The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Digital Opportunity Center project implemented by Taiwan’s Institute for Information Industry won the top prize in the Bridging Digital Divide category at the 2013 eAsia Awards, according to the state-run institute Dec. 4.
The eAsia Awards were presented by the Asia Pacific Council for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (AFACT) Nov. 29 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
“The ADOC project is not simply giving a person a fishing rod; it teaches him or her how to fish as well,” an institute official said, adding that in this case the “rod” is the opportunity to employ digital capability to improve one’s quality of life. It also creates overseas business opportunities for local firms and promotes humanitarian care, the official added.
According to the institute, ADOC was commissioned by the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of International Organizations and Bureau of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
Initiated by Taiwan during the 2003 APEC leaders' meeting in Bangkok, ADOC assists small and medium enterprises, as well as disadvantaged groups, to transform digital divides into digital opportunities. As of October, the project has provided information communications technology training for more than half a million individuals in the region over the past decade.
Since 2009, ADOC has also formed the basis of a public-private partnership, inviting cooperation from Acer Inc., AsusTek Computer Inc., Chunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd., Tzu Chi Foundation, World Vision and ADOC’s civil office.
ADOC will continue to serve as a platform for linking resources, disseminating digital expertise and facilitating knowledge and experience by working with partners to create digital opportunities, according to the official.
As part of effort to localize ADOC, the institute will assist 101 learning centers across the region build their capacity to operate independently, nurture sustainable business opportunities and assist more people, the official added.
Taipei City-based CyberSoft Digital Services Corp. also won the top prize at the eAsia Awards in the e-Business in Private Sector category for its Best Practice of Secure Mobile Payment for Electronic Business project.
The biennial awards were founded in 2003 by Taiwan while it served as the AFACT secretariat, primarily to recognize information communications technology solutions in promoting e-commerce as well as economic and social developments in the Asia-Pacific region. The awards also include trade facilitation and e-business in public sector. (SDH)
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