Taiwan’s smart handheld devices sector is expected to generate annual revenues of NT$1.28 trillion (US$43.8 billion) by 2015, with about 150,000 jobs to be created in related fields, according to the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
The ministry said Sept. 9 its projection is based partly on current conditions and partly on the expectation that the Cabinet will carry out a plan currently being formulated by the MOEA.
In the second quarter of this year, it said, handheld phones generated a total of NT$87.9 billion in output, 88.4 percent more than the same period last year.
Taiwan already has a complete smart handheld device industry chain, MOEA officials said, adding that in terms of output of touch screens, keyboards and printed circuit boards, Taiwan ranks No.1 in the world.
Local cell phone companies are also strong in adopting new mobile operating systems, the ministry said, adding that local companies have highly flexible designs and can release new products quickly.
But several obstacles still stand in the way of the industry’s development, the MOEA cautioned. These include insufficient collaboration between upstream and downstream firms and a shortage of qualified technicians in the workforce.
The MOEA said it is drafting an action plan to help overcome these obstacles, and that after soliciting the opinion of scholars and industry experts it will submit the plan to the Cabinet within the next two months.
Though details of the plan remain under wraps, it is understood that the MOEA will commission the Industrial Technology Research Institute to develop core components technology and explore more customer-oriented applications on mobile phones. (HZW)
Write to Aaron Hsu at pj1210meister@mail.gio.gov.tw