Promoting online businesses in Taiwan will make domestic industries more competitive around the world, said Premier Mao Chi-kuo today after a briefing on e-commerce by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA).
"To build Taiwan into a hub for Internet companies, the government must plan e-commerce promotion strategies while at the same time adjust regulations governing the virtual world," said the premier. This includes creating a sound environment for e-commerce, bringing more of Taiwan's businesses online, and offering these services on the global market.
According to the MOEA, the Executive Yuan is integrating and injecting resources from different agencies into eight fields: agricultural e-commerce, online retail, digital publication, e-finance, online games, digital learning, online videos and new media, and online travel services. It is hoped that by 2020, Taiwan's e-commerce transactions will double into a trillion-dollar industry (worth US$30 billion), and that cross-border online retail transactions will grow from the current NT$18 billion (US$545 million) to NT$45 billion (US$1.36 billion).
E-commerce will become the mainstream of economic growth, Mao said. To promote cross-border e-commerce and increase convenience for tourists, the MOEA is working with other agencies on a multifunctional app that offers tourism information, shopping discounts, specialty products, e-commerce service and money transactions. Promoting Taiwan Excellence brands, local specialties and friendly service, the app will provide domestic and international tourists with not only special offers during their trip but also updates on Taiwan sightseeing and shopping deals after they return home.