Taipei, Nov. 24, 2008 (CENS)--To upgrade the quality of life, the Taiwan government plans to budget NT$140 billion (US$4.38 billion at US$1 = NT$32) to subsidize culture-oriented tech industries in the next four years, with NT$2.1 billion (US$65.63 million) to used to promote "cultural creation" industries, NT$28 billion (US$875 million) to help form an "intelligent environment" to enhance "quality of life." Most of the budget will go to cultivating and recruiting professionals for such industries, estimated to need NT$110 billion (US$3.44 billion).

Over the past decade, the Taiwan government has successfully promoted the semiconductor and LCD panel industries to turn them into economic growth engines. Now the government is turning its target to culture-oriented industries, aiming to stimulate the local economy as well as upgrade quality of life.

Last year Taiwan`s cultural-creation industry generated production value of around NT$400 billion (US$12.5 billion), of which NT$30 billion (US$938 million) came from video games, animated cartoons, and related digital programs.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) and Council for Cultural Affairs (CCA) are in charge of the development of cultural creation industry and work with related official units. In the next four years, the government`s policies for high-tech industry will be focused on creating an intelligent living environment and helping people upgrade life quality; for instance, the set up of intelligent transportation system, the expansion of broadband network, the provision of healthcare to remote areas, etc.
(by Judy Li)