Taiwan is using its information and communication technology expertise to accelerate development in partner nations.
Francisco Jose Gonzalez, an information technology official from Republic of China (Taiwan) diplomatic ally Belize, was among 28 professionals from 22 countries who visited the nation April 13-26 for the 2017 Workshop on E-government Development. He described his participation in the training program, organized by the Taipei City-based International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF), as an “enriching, once-in-a-lifetime” experience.
Gonzalez said he was more than satisfied with the lectures as they directly applied to what his Central American country is doing or striving to do. Field trips to different organizations were also beneficial, he added, as they provided insights into relevant success stories.
The Belizean official was particularly interested in presentations that touched on cybersecurity and open data, saying his government is working to develop an internal data exchange platform and national identification system. He said he was also impressed by Taiwan’s digital archiving projects and related technologies during visits to the Center for Digital Cultures operated by Academia Sinica, Taiwan’s foremost research institution, and the National Archives Administration under the Cabinet-level National Development Council (NDC), both based in Taipei.
TaiwanICDF is helping Joseph N. France General Hospital in St. Kitts and Nevis establish a health information system. (Photo courtesy of TaiwanICDF)
Partners for Development
Over the years, with its complete information and communication technology (ICT) supply chain and strong research and development capabilities, Taiwan has become one of the world’s leading suppliers of ICT products and services. In addition, it has been promoting e-government infrastructure and applications for more than 10 years, resulting in significant improvements in the delivery of public services.
Capitalizing on Taiwan’s strengths and resources in ICT as well as e-government development experience, TaiwanICDF has initiated many technical cooperation projects on digital infrastructure in partner nations over the last decade. These programs aim to bridge the urban-rural digital divide, enhance government efficiency and promote a wide range of applications in different sectors.
“The use of ICT can improve the way businesses, governments and individuals communicate and operate by boosting efficiency and cutting costs,” said Liu Shih-hung (柳世紘), deputy director of TaiwanICDF’s Technical Cooperation Department. “Our goal is to help partner countries establish viable and sustainable ICT systems to expedite their economic and social development.”
This is accomplished through various forms of aid including capacity building, funding and technology transfers. “We assist our international partners not only with the installation of hardware and software systems, but also personnel training so they can operate and maintain the facilities after our projects come to an end,” Liu said. “Plus, we work with them in formulating comprehensive ICT solutions for integrating government databases and services.”
Participants in a TaiwanICDF-administered workshop visit the Taipei Metro Operation Control Center, Taipei City Traffic Information Center and Taipei Customs Office to learn about information and communication technology systems. (Photo courtesy of TaiwanICDF)
So far, TaiwanICDF has helped a number of ROC diplomatic allies including Belize, Paraguay, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines create national web portals, set up ICT centers and develop e-government mechanisms. The foreign aid organization has supported three of these countries—Belize, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines—in obtaining ISO/IEC 27001 information security management system certification.
TaiwanICDF has also assisted partner countries in employing ICT in other areas such as agriculture, civil and vehicle registration, customs services, hospital management, licensing, medical care and police administration. For example, projects are being implemented at public hospitals in Paraguay and St. Kitts and Nevis to establish health information systems, which facilitate data collection, processing, analysis and dissemination.
A Global Effort
Jyan Hong-wei (簡宏偉), director-general of the Executive Yuan’s Department of Cyber Security, has contributed his expertise to TaiwanICDF-organized ICT development activities since 2007. He has helped design and implement e-government strategies in Belize, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“ICT applications can streamline administrative procedures and facilitate information delivery and sharing, as well as increase accountability, effectiveness, transparency and the public’s trust in government,” Jyan said. “Closer international collaboration can help developing countries leapfrog many challenges. I’m glad to be part of that global effort.” TaiwanICDF’s technical assistance plans are always tailor-made, he emphasized, adding that they are implemented jointly with recipient countries so as to adequately address their needs.
TaiwanICDF is assisting the Central American nation of Belize in digitizing and integrating its import and export licensing services, as well as cultivating ICT talent. (Photos courtesy of TaiwanICDF)
Donnette O’Neil, a database administrator and manager of the eGovernment Center in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, has seen firsthand the benefits of ICT and technical cooperation projects in the public and private sectors. She is assisting in the implementation of the electronic document and records management system (EDRMS) as well as public key infrastructure (PKI)—used for encryption and authentication—being introduced to government agencies in her country by TaiwanICDF.
“ICT development can strengthen a nation’s cybersecurity capabilities,” she said. “It can also empower individuals to work anywhere in the world once they have access to the internet, thus reducing unemployment.”
Last year, O’Neil and two other officials from St. Vincent and the Grenadines traveled to Taiwan for a 17-day tour sponsored by TaiwanICDF. They visited 18 government agencies, private companies and industry and research institutions—largely providers or users of EDRMS and PKI. O’Neil said that during the trip she learned how to set realistic objectives for the effective use of ICT in her country by approaching development goals in stages rather than trying to implement everything simultaneously.
A police officer in St. Lucia uses a crime management system introduced by TaiwanICDF experts to log incident reports. (Photo courtesy of Donnette O’Neil)
The database administrator was especially interested in the operations of the NDC’s Preserving Electronic Archives and Records Laboratory, as well as technologies related to smart buildings and homes developed by Chunghwa Telecom, the nation’s largest telecommunications company.
Similar to Gonzalez from Belize, O’Neil considered her trip to Taiwan a great learning experience. “I was able to see the full picture as it relates to EDRMS and PKI—not just the end results, but also the concepts, technologies and investments required for the sustainability of these systems.” she said. “I felt like a kid in a candy store.”
Serving the World
Overseas ICT development projects not only benefit recipient nations but also the Taiwan participants. One such individual is Shawn Hu (胡富翔), who took part in the 2013-2017 cooperative project implemented in St. Kitts and Nevis that seeks to help public hospitals build information systems to replace manual, paper-based processes. Through the program, Taiwan specialists assist local authorities in automating their workflows relating to patient registration, medical records and pharmacy inventory management.
Hu, who holds a master’s degree in information management from Yuan Ze University in northern Taiwan’s Taoyuan City, participated in the ICT project in the Caribbean country while performing his alternative national service between October 2015 and August 2016. He helped with the installation and testing of hardware and software as well as staff training.
TaiwanICDF has launched many technical cooperation projects around the world to boost partner nations’ development and foster stronger ties. (Photo courtesy of TaiwanICDF)
In Taiwan, all young men must perform national service. While most serve in the military, some are given the option to assist the nation’s technical and medical missions. Since 2001, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commissioned TaiwanICDF to manage the youth overseas service program. A total of 1,265 conscripts had opted for such alternative service as of the end of 2016.
“Providing international assistance in ICT infrastructure and skills development is a demonstration of Taiwan’s soft power,” the 27-year-old said. “I was excited to participate in this meaningful task.”
Through the service program, Hu was able to use his expertise to help others and at the same time engage with local residents, gaining a deeper understanding of their values and lifestyles in the process. “People in St. Kitts and Nevis appear to live balanced and happy lives at a leisurely pace,” he said. “Having learned from them, I aspire to better myself rather than pursue material success.”
Currently working as a software engineer, Hu said he would encourage other young people to participate in the nation’s foreign aid initiatives. “Living abroad forces you out of your comfort zone and makes you more adaptable, confident and independent,” he said. “It’ll change your life for the better.”
Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw