The Executive Yuan unveiled a NT$46 billion (US$1.5 billion) national infrastructure program for digital facilities March 21 in Taipei City as part of the government’s nearly decadelong Forward-looking Infrastructure Program released the day before.
Cabinet spokesperson Hsu Kuo-yung said that the digital development efforts will focus on the relaxation of regulations as well as investment in five areas, namely cultural creativity, digital human rights, information security, smart life services and talent cultivation.
Hsu said that construction projects in the five areas include expanding high-speed internet infrastructure to cover 90 percent of Taiwan, upgrading web connectivity in rural areas, developing ultra-high-definition TV and new media content, creating easily accessible open government services and building next-generation smart learning networks through cloud services and big data technologies.
Minister without Portfolio Audrey Tang described the initiatives as open and collaborative, noting by way of example that existing government services for disaster prevention and rescue, water resources and earthquake warnings will be integrated through one-stop digital applications.
Regarding the digital learning environment, Tang said the government will shift its focus from hardware development to cross-discipline cooperation among the academic, civic and private sectors through high-performance computing platforms and other scientific research facilities.
Echoing Tang’s remarks, Minister of Science and Technology Chen Liang-gee said that in the future the government will utilize artificial intelligence applications as part of administration planning and talent development projects, with the aim of heralding a new smart era for the nation.
The FIP also covers balanced urban-rural development, railroads, renewable energy and water resource projects, with a total budget of around NT$880 billion intended to address Taiwan’s infrastructure needs for the next 30 years.
According to the Cabinet, plans covering balanced urban-rural development and railway projects are set to be unveiled later this week.(KTJ-E)
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