The government is planning to invest NT$12 billion (US$405.9 million) in the local smart handheld device sector by the end of 2015 in a bid to build a supply chain in the value-added sector, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said on Friday.
The Cabinet has approved an action plan proposed by the ministry, which aims to spur private sector investment of about NT$20 billion in the local smart handheld device sector to achieve output of around NT$1.28 trillion by 2015, the ministry said in a statement.
The output of Taiwan’s smartphone sector is expected to total NT$588 billion this year, with a production of about 74.97 million units, according to the Industrial Economics and Knowledge Center of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI, 工研院).
Despite slowing growth in smartphone output this year from last year, Taiwan’s tablet computer sector is forecast to generate NT$370.5 billion, with a total production of about 39.42 million units this year, almost double that of last year, the ITRI forecast.
To strengthen its competitiveness in handheld device components, Taiwan should integrate the resources of local manufacturers, including chip designers and foundry plants, to develop multi-core processors for handheld devices, the ITRI suggested.
The ministry said the Industrial Development Bureau had mapped out a development strategy as part of the action plan, which will push for innovation and boost production of key components.
In addition, the plan aims to create an open framework for greater cooperation among manufacturers in upstream and downstream segments and encourage handheld device manufacturers to use locally made components, it said.
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