Headline News
Taipei now Google’s largest R&D center in Asia
Google has acquired Taiwan’s HTC smartphone Original Manufacture assets for US$1.1 billion. “With the official close of this deal, we’re expanding our footprint in the Asia Pacific region. Taiwan is a key innovation and engineering hub for Google, and Taipei will now become the largest engineering site in the Asia Pacific region,” said senior vice-president Rick Osterloh of Google’s hardware operations.
With this acquisition about 2,000 HTC engineers will now work for Google’s hardware division.
“We are welcoming an incredibly talented team to work on even better and more innovative products to come,” Osterloh is quoted.
Cabinet to focus on AI development
The cabinet will bolster efforts to attract international talent and firms to turn Taiwan into an artificial intelligence (AI) innovation hub and will allocate an annual budget of NT$10 billion to develop the AI industry, said Premier William Lai.
The four year “Taiwan AI Action Plan” is part of the cabinet’s goal to develop “smart” technology and use Taiwan’s prominent information technology and semiconductor industries to develop AI technologies and facilitate industrial transformation, Lai said.
The Executive Yuan Office of Science and Technology said it plans to train 1,000 advanced research and development personnel and 5,000 AI professionals by 2021. Also over 100 AI technology solutions would be created to facilitate the development of the “five plus two ”innovative industries: an ”Asian Silicon Valley,” smart machinery, green energy, biotechnology and national defense, as well as establishing a new agricultural business model and a circular economy.
Taiwan 33rd on Global Democracy Index
The London based “The Economist” published the annual Democracy Index report compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit” (EIU), with an assessment of the democracy in 167 countries.
Based on the five criteria: electoral process and pluralism, functioning of government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties, Taiwan ranked 33rd with 7.73 points on a zero to ten scale.
Although 0.06 points less than last year, Taiwan occupies the same rank as in 2016 and received the designation of a “flawed democracy.”
Economy
Economic growth of 2.6% registered in 2017
Taiwan recorded an economic growth of 2.6% for 2017. This was a significant improvement from the previous year, as the government’s efforts to strengthen the economic fundamentals have paid off, said Premier William Lai.
With the recovery of the domestic economy, Taiwan’s job market has stabilized and Taiwan has been on the path of economic recovery as President Tsai Ing-wen has been prioritizing economic development in the government’s policies, the Premier added.
Tourism
2018 Year of Bay Tourism
Taiwan Tourism Bureau has designated 2018 as the “Year of Bay Tourism” and selected 10 offshore islands to focus its promotional effort.
The central and local governments have collaborated with local industry operators, such as travel agencies and hotels, and worked out activities with strong oceanic appeals, said Tourism Bureau Director-General Joe Chou.
The 10 islands are: Turtle Island, Green Island, Orchid Island, Xiaoliuqiu, Qimei Island, Yuwongdao (Xiyu), Jibei Island, Lieyu Island, Beigan Island and Dongju Island.
Kaohsiung in top-5 cities to visit in 2018
Arts Library Kaohsiung City
The world’s largest travel guidebook, Lonely Planet, listed Kaohsiung on the 5th spot among the best 10 travel destinations in 2018.
Kaohsiung is emerging as “Taiwan’s showcase for experimental architecture from around the world with a massive arts center and 100,000 square-meters cultural and music complex, complete with wave-lapped walkways, Lonely Planet reported.
