TAIPEI: Taiwan information and communication technology (ICT) industry has no reason to show pessimism about its future prospect, as such new tech applications as AI (artificial intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), and smart cities will be extended to all the industrial and commercial fields in the near future and generate tremendous business opportunities, according to Tung Tzu-hsien, chairman of Taipei Computer Association (TCA).
Tung told digitimes in an interview held after opening of the IT month on december 6 at exhibition Hall 1, Taipei world trade center that with robust industrial chains, Taiwan’s ICT sector will play an important role in the new tech applications and stand to benefit from the ensuing huge business opportunities.Tung said unlike the winners-take-all scenario seen in the mobile devices sector, the IoT sector will see business opportunities more open to interested players and the entire IoT supply chain is likely to experience a major reshuffle in the next 5,10 years.
Customs statistics show that Taiwan’s overall ICT exports, excluding shipments delivered from overseas plants operated by Taiwan enterprises, amounted to US$123 billion in 2016, accounting for 44% of the country’s total annual exports of US$280 billion. This has highlighted the crucial status of Taiwan’s ICT industry in stimulating the nation’s economic growth, offering job opportunities for people, and creating foreign exchange incomes and tax revenues for the government.