Taiwan Today

Taiwan’s representatives to the APEC Business Advisory Council contribute to the well-being of people across the region.

The 13th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Meeting on Health and the Economy, chaired by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, convened August 6 in Seattle. At the event, Ted Chang (張嘉淵), one of Taiwan’s delegates to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), presented a letter from the body to APEC health ministers. “It’s our belief that health is a fundamental human right that’s essential to achieving the Putrajaya Vision 2040 for an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful ­Asia-Pacific community,” Chang said. “Our recommendations focus on two priority areas: digital health and pandemic preparedness and response.” ABAC paid close attention to health issues before COVID-19 and will continue to do so in the future, he added.

Recognizing the integral role of business in society and the value of advice from corporate leaders on key issues, APEC created ABAC in 1995. The council, composed of three delegates from each of the 21 member economies, advises APEC on business sector concerns and presents suggestions in an annual dialogue. In addition to four council gatherings per year, ABAC members also meet with senior officials, ministers and other leaders.

Digital innovations are changing the way health care is delivered, from disease detection and diagnosis to treatment. ABAC recommends that APEC member economies adopt emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), data interoperability—the ability of different information systems to access, exchange and utilize data—and telemedicine as rapidly as possible not only to benefit patients and medical professionals but also to strengthen the resilience of health care networks and foster cross-border collaboration. As for major health threats like pandemics, ABAC calls for greater cooperation between governments and businesses to improve the responsiveness of medical systems and to better manage economic impacts.

Gaining Ground

Chang is the chief technology officer of Taiwan-headquartered Quanta Computer Inc., the world’s largest original design manufacturer of notebook computers. In recognition of his expertise in information and communications technology (ICT), he has led the ABAC Digital Health Project at the council’s invitation since 2021. The initiative seeks to promote smart medicine and precision health care through AI, 5G and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

“If we view data as water and AI as the fish in the water, the process of machine learning is just like fishing,” Chang said. “We try to teach people how to fish in their own data lake rather than giving away fish.” He hosted a two-day virtual do-AI-yourself workshop utilizing his company’s medical cloud platform in June. The hands-on ­sessions attracted attendees from 19 APEC member economies, who learned how to use the technology without needing coding skills. “We’re thrilled about the enthusiastic feedback and requests for more training courses that we received from participants,” Chang said. “There has been a growing push to integrate AI into smart health care, and we want to make its applications user-friendly for those who don’t have tech backgrounds in order to reduce the digital divide between developed and developing countries.”

Appointed by President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), Chang, Taiwan Mobile Co. President Jamie Lin (林之晨) and Acer Inc. Chair and CEO Jason Chen (陳俊聖) have served as Taiwan’s representatives on ABAC for five years running. With their exceptional skills and extensive ICT experience, they have ramped up technological transformation across the Asia-Pacific while raising the country’s international profile.

Growth Track

Lin is similarly concerned about the digital divide, and his accomplishments at Taiwan Mobile make him an ideal candidate to advise on applications of 5G, AI, blockchain, cybersecurity and financial technologies through ABAC. His company, headquartered in Taipei City, is one of the country’s top three telecom operators.

“The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digitalization in advanced economies and widened the gap between countries, posing profound challenges to ­individuals as well as micro, small and medium enterprises [MSMEs] in underprivileged areas,” he said. “Developed nations should help other economies strengthen digital infrastructure and literacy through technical support and education.”

Taiwan has launched a number of successful capacity building programs to bridge the gap. Lin cited the APEC Digital Opportunity Center project that ran from 2004 to 2014 as a prime example. Undertaken by Taipei-based Institute for Information Industry, the initiative gave students the tools and understanding to cultivate their ICT capabilities. Under its auspices, a total of 101 centers were established in 10 partner countries, with about 650,000 trainees completing courses in computer operations, e-­commerce and internet access.

Lin’s participation in ABAC has resulted in interaction with officials, experts and academics from other member economies, imparting a deeper awareness of the Asia-Pacific’s diverse cultural, economic and social conditions. Keeping abreast of the latest regional developments has honed his strategic thinking on business partnerships and foreign markets as he discusses wide-ranging matters with fellow ABAC representatives and issues recommendations spanning consumer spending, exports, imports and investment.

Active Defense

APEC’s adoption of ABAC advice demonstrates leaders’ acknowledgement of how vital it is to give private businesses a voice. The council is the sole nongovernmental entity that has an official role in the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. “It acts as both ­catalyst and facilitator of the organization’s work,” Chen said. “Regional economic integration requires public and private collaboration to tackle the complex challenges of globalization.”

New Taipei City-headquartered Acer is one of the world’s top ICT companies, with a presence in more than 160 countries. One of Chen’s major tasks is utilizing his company’s experience at the global level to help MSMEs establish sustainable operations. Through ABAC’s Digital and Innovation Working Group (DIWG), he shares enterprise resilience and environmental sustainability measures to assist small businesses in the region with environmental, social and corporate governance goals. 

ABAC statistics from 2022 reveal that 43 percent of cybercrimes target MSMEs and 56 percent of companies surveyed had experienced attacks in the last 12 months, highlighting the importance of cyber resilience. “Cybersecurity is a crucial concern for businesses of all sizes, but small businesses are particularly vulnerable to threats due to limited resources and expertise,” Chen said. “It’s necessary for them to be aware of these challenges and take steps to protect valuable data from increasingly sophisticated hackers.”

One of Acer’s subsidiaries, Acer Cyber Security Inc., has developed a self-assessment toolkit specifically designed for MSMEs to shore up their digital defense. The cost-effective, easy-to-use software identifies vulnerabilities like suspicious accounts and malware and provides solutions for configuration issues. It was among the resources Chen, who is overseeing a DIWG cybersecurity project, recommended at this year’s third ABAC meeting that attracted great interest from participants.

Chen, Lin and Chang’s active engagement in the influential private-sector body underscores Taiwan’s ­commitment to promoting APEC’s overarching goal of inclusive, innovative and sustainable growth. “Taiwan can take pride in its technological prowess as it plays a ­central role in creating greater prosperity for people across the region,” Lin said.

Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw