New NDC chief highlights AI as key to Taiwan's new economy

Taipei, Sept. 1 (CNA) Newly-appointed National Development Council (NDC) Minister Yeh Chun-hsien (葉俊顯) said Monday he will actively work to advance Taiwan's industrial innovation, and highlighted artificial intelligence (AI) as key to the country's new economy.

Yeh, a research fellow at Academia Sinica's Institute of Economics, officially took over from Liu Chin-ching (劉鏡清), who resigned for health reasons, during a handover ceremony in the morning, after which he gave a speech.

The new NDC chief said he will focus on the overall goals of the National Development Plan (2025-2028) which prioritizes four main policy areas: innovation-driven economy, balanced development across Taiwan, improved governance, and talent investment.

The NDC will also continue to promote the government's Five Trusted Industry Sectors -- semiconductors, AI, military, security and surveillance, and next-generation communications, he said.

According to a Cabinet statement in September 2024, focusing on these five sectors will help Taiwan to "capitalize on new business opportunities created by shifting geopolitical trends and secure pivotal positions within global supply chains, thereby enhancing national strength."

Without elaborating, Yeh said he plans 10 new AI infrastructure initiatives as the latter is central to Taiwan's new economy, and the NDC will continue to promote its NT$10 billion fund to support industrial transformation.

In terms of talent investment, the government will promote the "National Talent Competitiveness Program 2.0" to strengthen the quality of the nation's workforce, build international competitiveness for the new generation, and create a bilingual-friendly environment to attract global talent to Taiwan, he added.

Implementing national development policies requires the NDC to play a coordinating role across government agencies and work closely with local governments, he explained, adding that no matter how good a policy, it cannot be truly realized without public understanding and support.