Helping bicycle manufacturers innovate and refine their technologies will boost the nation's competitiveness and transform Taiwan into a world-class cycling island, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said at the Cabinet meeting today.
After listening to the Ministry of Economic Affairs' (MOEA) report on efforts to promote Taiwan's bicycle industry into a high value-added business, the premier said one of the goals of the Executive Yuan's Three Industries and Four Reforms program is to create a manufacturing sector that is more service oriented, and bicycles are one of the focal industries under this goal. The bike industry can extend its advantages beyond manufacturing technology by offering value-added services that cater to consumer needs, he added.
Taiwan's bicycle companies have made the transition from making parts for other countries to selling their own brands worldwide. This traditional industry is now a high-end business with a complete, value-added supply chain and global marketing channels. The premier said the MOEA and other ministries should apply this model to other sectors and help businesses transform themselves following the Three Industries and Four Reforms principles.
The MOEA said its visions for the bicycle industry include seeing manufacturers upgrade from ordinary to high-end bikes, linking bicycles with other transportation systems, developing new business models, promoting exercise-theme parks and related products, establishing e-bike services for exercise and leisure, and bringing these services to other parts of the world. The MOEA also hopes to capitalize on the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement to promote riding services in conjunction with mainland operators and help lay out bike lanes there. The hope is that when people around the world think of bicycles, they would immediately think of Taiwan.