Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) yesterday said the government plans to build the local biotechnology industry into the next sector to generate NT$1 trillion (US$31.37 billion) in production value.
President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) has paid much attention to the development of the local biotech industry since taking office in 2016 and the government is now looking to boost its output to NT$1 trillion, Chen said in his address to the opening ceremony of this year’s Bio Taiwan Committee.
In 2016, the first year of Tsai’s first term, the president launched the “5+2 Industrial Innovation Program” aimed at boosting Taiwan’s competitiveness, which included the biotech industry, Chen said.
Photo: CNA
Tsai also unveiled the “Six Core Strategic Industries” program, which was built on the foundation established by the 5+2 Industrial Innovation Program, to promote precision healthcare as one of the six core industries in the nation, he said.
The Executive Yuan plans to integrate resources across government, to map out appropriate policies and laws to boost the pace at which the nation’s biotech industry grows, he added.
Currently, several industries in Taiwan have posted more than NT$1 trillion in production value, including the semiconductor, Internet communications, server, display, printed circuit board and machinery industries, Chen said.
The government would collect information and opinions from experts at the three-day annual meeting of the Bio Taiwan Committee, which was set up by the Executive Yuan in 2005, as an important reference as the Cabinet seeks to promote biotech development, he said.
Chen said Taiwan has world-class biotech and medical talent who provide excellent healthcare services and enabled the nation to take first place in the global Health Care Index for the fourth consecutive year, indicating that Taiwan’s hospital services and digital medical care are well recognized worldwide.
Referencing Taiwan’s efforts at combating the COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years as an example, he said the success came from the nation’s sound and comprehensive healthcare system, and close cooperation between the public and government.
With its people protected by a good healthcare system, Taiwan boasted one of the best economic performances in the world from 2020 to last year, Chen said.
The government aims to set up biotech industrial clusters by encouraging more start-ups to join the sector and attracting more foreign companies to enter the local market, he said.
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