The Economy

A 1999 survey of national competitiveness ranked Taiwan 18th out of 47 nations by the Swiss-based International Institute for Management Development and also ranked Taiwan as 10th highest in the Science and Technology category.

Taiwan is now one of the world?s top 15 trading nations and its foreign exchange reserves are the world?s third largest.

Today, many high quality products with the ?Made in Taiwan? label are recognized around the world.

United States is the second largest supplier for Taiwan.American products accounted for 18.8% or US$19.7 billion of Taiwan?s imports in 1998.

Science and Technology

Taiwan is now ranked number three in the world for total production value of information products.

Taiwan is the world?s number one producer of notebook computers, motherboards, CD-ROM drives, and scanners.

Taiwan is the world's top wafer manufacturer for OEM in terms of both value and volume.

The use of advanced agricultural technology to cultivate flower seedlings has won Taiwan a reputation as ?the kingdom of butterfly orchids.?

Because Taiwan is located in an earthquake zone, the government has strengthened the study of earthquake technology to improve disaster rescue efficiency and reduce losses.

Remarkable achievements in fish, eel, and shrimp production have earned Taiwan a reputation of the kingdom of eels?

Development of Hi-Tech Industries in Taiwan

Propellant of Hi-Tech Industry

The industrial Technology Research Institute was established in 1973. This institute would provide immense assistance to industrial upgrading and hi-tech development.

The Institute for Information Industry (III) was founded in 1979. III has devoted its effort, since its establishment, to promote application of information technologies. Significant results have been achieved in the areas of developing advanced software technologies, establishing a sound environment for IT industry development, and advocating and promoting Computerization by the public and private sectors.

The Progress