Amid optimistic forecasts by major research institutes for an improved economic situation at home and abroad this year, experts and government officials urged Taiwanese companies to focus on R&D and innovation to expand their presence in global markets.
Chen Wen-tang, a section chief at the Market Information Center under the Institute for Information Industry, said Taiwanese businesses must step up their R&D and innovation at a time when China is quickly emerging as an economic power.
In the face of increased relocations by Taiwan companies to China, including their research teams, the domestic information industry must seek to maintain its lead in technology to survive, he stressed.
Since the global economy is expected gradually to gain strength this year, Chen predicted that the production value and output of the domestic industry will surge at double-digit growth rates in the years ahead.
He forecast that by 2009, the output values of nine major Taiwan-made information technology products, such as motherboards, digital cameras, servers, LTDs and notebook computers, will account for at least 7.4 percent of the world's total.
Vice Premier Lin Hsin-yi, who also doubles as chairman of the Council for Economic Planning and Development, is also upbeat about the domestic economy in the coming year.
Citing estimates by government agencies, Lin predicted recently that Taiwan's overall economy will improve this year, with outbound shipments expanding by 3.52 percent. He also forecast that per-capita income will rise to US$13,191 from last year's level of US$12,851.
Taiwan is to receive the first batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 jets from the US late this month, a defense official said yesterday, after a year-long delay due to a logjam in US arms deliveries. Completing the NT$247.2 billion (US$7.69 billion) arms deal for 66 jets would make Taiwan the third nation in the world to receive factory-fresh advanced fighter jets of the same make and model, following Bahrain and Slovakia, the official said on condition of anonymity. F-16 Block 70/72 are newly manufactured F-16 jets built by Lockheed Martin to the standards of the F-16V upgrade package. Republic of China
Taiwan-Japan Travel Passes are available for use on public transit networks in the two countries, Taoyuan Metro Corp said yesterday, adding that discounts of up to 7 percent are available. Taoyuan Metro, the Taipei MRT and Japan’s Keisei Electric Railway teamed up to develop the pass. Taoyuan Metro operates the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport MRT Line, while Keisei Electric Railway offers express services between Tokyo’s Narita Airport, and the Keisei Ueno and Nippori stations in the Japanese capital, as well as between Narita and Haneda airports. The basic package comprises one one-way ticket on the Taoyuan MRT Line and one Skyliner ticket on
Starlux Airlines, Taiwan’s newest international carrier, has announced it would apply to join the Oneworld global airline alliance before the end of next year. In an investor conference on Monday, Starlux Airlines chief executive officer Glenn Chai (翟健華) said joining the alliance would help it access Taiwan. Chai said that if accepted, Starlux would work with other airlines in the alliance on flight schedules, passenger transits and frequent flyer programs. The Oneworld alliance has 13 members, including American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Qantas, and serves more than 900 destinations in 170 territories. Joining Oneworld would also help boost
A new tropical storm formed late yesterday near Guam and is to approach closest to Taiwan on Thursday, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. Tropical Storm Pulasan became the 14th named storm of the year at 9:25pm yesterday, the agency said. As of 8am today, it was near Guam traveling northwest at 21kph, it said. The storm’s structure is relatively loose and conditions for strengthening are limited, WeatherRisk analyst Wu Sheng-yu (吳聖宇) said on Facebook. Its path is likely to be similar to Typhoon Bebinca, which passed north of Taiwan over Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and made landfall in Shanghai this morning, he said. However, it