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Taiwan opens 41 digital opportunity centres in developing nations

TAIPEI - Taiwan is helping establish 41 digital opportunity centres in seven developing nations under a regional initiative to bridge the digital divide, a newspaper said on Sunday.

By the end of 2008, Taiwan plans to have opened 41 centres under the programmes approved by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the Taipei Times said.

From August 2004 until mid-2007, 34 centers had been set up in Chile, Indonesia, Peru, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and Thailand, with more than 51,000 information and communications technology professionals in those countries trained through the program, the paper said.

Taiwan proposed the Digital Opportunity Center initiative during a 2003 APEC leadership summit held in Thailand.

The stated goal was to use Taiwan's edge in information technology and digital experience to assist developing APEC member states in upgrading their information technology capabilities.

Taiwan also hopes to enhance its global visibility, strengthen its friendship with other APEC member states and expand its business opportunities, the bureau said.

Senior Taiwan officials and business leaders will meet with their counterparts from other APEC member states September 29-October 4 in Taipei, to discuss the second phase of the initiative.