A transparent administration is the hallmark of a modern nation, and a democratic country must be transparent, accountable and open to its citizenry, Premier Lin said at a Cabinet meeting today.
After a briefing by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) on its uses of open data, Lin said that open government is a modern trend Taiwan must stay ahead of, and that such a government will improve administrative efficiency.
Open government will also facilitate industrial innovation and creativity, Lin said. Releasing government data for public use not only allows the government to better manage public affairs, but also encourages the private sector to innovate and create a wide range of business opportunities. All of these new fields have been made possible by modern technology, the Internet and the digital industry.
The MOEA said administrative uses of open data include advanced metering infrastructure (including big data analysis of high-voltage and low-voltage users) and smart water meters, both of which are being promoted by state-owned enterprises. The ministry is also employing big data to assist businesses in expanding overseas markets, selecting key export markets, formulating strategies for overseas exhibitions, and marketing products internationally.
To ensure the data released by state-owned enterprises meet public needs, the economics ministry has regularly convened open data work meetings since July 15, inviting environmental and social groups and learning about their data needs. Of the 15 data sets requested by these groups, seven have been compiled and released so far.