(Photo courtesy of the Executive Yuan)

Taipei, July 15 (CNA) Taiwan intends to improve its competitiveness in the aerospace industry through partnerships between the public and private sectors and international cooperation, Premier Lin Chuan (林全) said during a visit to the National Space Organization Saturday.

Lin visited the organization in Hsinchu to learn about preparations for the upcoming launch of Formosat-5, the first satellite developed by Taiwan.

It is a significant milestone in Taiwan's airspace industry that it has the ability to develop its own satellite, the premier said.

The next goal is to advance the country's ability to develop aerospace technology and improve its international competitiveness in the field, he said.

He also expressed hope that there will be greater partnerships between the public and private sectors in the industry along with opportunities for international cooperation.

The development of the satellite industry cannot just depend on the National Applied Research Laboratories and the National Space Organization, Lin said, hoping that local companies will also join in the efforts.

Formosat-5 is scheduled to be shipped to California on July 19, and will be launched on Aug. 25 from there.

It took six years, more than 50 teams and an investment of NT$5.659 billion (US$186.37 million) to develop the optical remote sensing satellite, which will take over the remote sensing mission of Formosat-2, which was decommissioned last year, the National Space Organization has said.

Formosat-5 will be used to guide disaster inspection and prevention efforts, identify landslide prone areas, and support environmental monitoring, academic research and international humanitarian relief work, it said.

(By Lu Kang-chun and Elaine Hou)
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