Gov't to reinforce e-services to domestic enterprises

Taipei, Dec. 2, 2003 (CENS)--To enhance e-services to domestic enterprises, the government is expected to build related application systems, including e-service portal site and information service network, by the end of next year.

Robert S. Q. Lai, director general of the Small & Medium Enterprise Administration (SMEA) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), said that the completion of the projected systems would reinforce the government's e-services to domestic enterprises for operating management, financial management and business upgrading.

Lai emphasized that government's business operation plan for 'e-service and e-business' offers 24-hour nonstop services and the information platform provides a wide range of business information. Lai hoped that domestic enterprises, particularly the small- and medium-sized companies, could easily access the information they need through the connection with the platform.

A survey done last month by Tech Vantage Magazine, a locally published e-type magazine, showed that the lack of information talent ( accounting for 39.82% of the polled firms), budget shortfall (39.15%), and internal ramifications (29.53%) are major problems faced by Taiwan's small- and medium-sized enterprises in establishing their own Internet systems. And the survey also showed that about 60% of the polled enterprises expressed the need for e-commerce.

Lai disclosed that the operation plan for "e-service and e-business' was promoted by SEMA as early as in 1999, and so far SEMA has already set up some 48 online data bases for 48 domestic industries. Lai hoped that the number of such data bases could grow to 100 in the next three years.

Last year SEMA established eight e-service sub-groups for such industries as electrical machinery, footwear, and sporting goods, etc. and offered in the same year free assessments and consulting services on e-commerce of more than 1,000 enterprises. In addition, more than 1,000 enterprises in Taiwan, via the assistance of SEMA, have subscribed or will subscribe to broadband Internet services by the end of this year.

Taipei Computer Association also said that it has over the past two years offered consulting services and relevant assessments on e-operations for some 1,800 small- and medium-sized firms; and of which, 221 firms in knitted garment and electric & electronic industries have already been successfully involved in e-commerce.

Lai concluded that the government's e-services are designed to help small- and medium-sized enterprises upgrade their capability and enhance their competitiveness in the world market.