A government initiative to help boost Taiwan’s cultural and creative sector was launched yesterday, expanding the age at which citizens and eligible foreign residents would qualify for a voucher program that was introduced last year.
Starting yesterday, Taiwanese citizens and eligible foreign nationals, aged 16 to 22, could claim the digital vouchers, valued at NT$1,200, to spend on cultural activities, Minister of Culture Shih Che (史哲) said at a news conference in Taipei.
When the vouchers were first introduced last year to provide an economic stimulus to the cultural and creative sectors, they were offered to eligible residents aged 18 to 21, and about 80 percent in that category claimed the “culture points,” as the vouchers are called, he said.
Photo: CNA
In light of the enthusiastic response last year, the Cabinet decided to issue the vouchers annually and to expand the age eligibility to aged from 16 to 22, he said.
This year, the government has marked NT$2 billion (US$63.61 million) for the culture vouchers, which are expected to be claimed by about 1.6 million young people, he said.
To make the system more efficient, the government has teamed up with electronic payment service providers Pxpay Plus, Pluspay and icash Pay, which would allow use of the “culture points” as a form of payment, Shih said.
At the news conference, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) encouraged young people to use the vouchers to explore Taiwan’s culture, which he said is the “soul” of the nation and helps shape national identity.
Culture Points could be used to pay for tickets or merchandise at museums, live music venues, art galleries, movie theaters and other cultural sites until Dec. 31, the culture ministry said.
The digital vouchers, which can only be downloaded on mobile phones via the culture ministry’s app, are available to Taiwanese nationals and foreign residents born between Jan. 1, 2002 and Dec. 31, 2008, the ministry said.
Eligible foreign residents are those who hold an Alien Resident Certificate or Alien Permanent Resident Certificate, including those from China, Hong Kong and Macau, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, eligible young people who have yet to claim last year’s “culture points” can still do so, which are eligible until June 30, the ministry said.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS