IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

President Chen Shui-bian expressed pleasure Thursday that Taiwan has excelled in global information technology ratings recently, including an e-government survey conducted by Brown University in the United States.

In his latest electronic letter, Chen praised Taiwanese students' good performance in a Web competition titled "Doors to Diplomacy" sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the International Schools CyberFair.

Read more: Taiwan excels in information technology rating

Für den früheren Bürgermeister der Hauptstadt Taiwans war es ein Prestigeprojekt: Als Ergänzung zum GSM-Mobilfunknetz sollte in Taipeh bis Ende 2005 die stadtweite Versorgung der Bevölkerung mit drahtlosem Internet-Zugang per WLAN gewährleistet sein. Ma Ying-Jeou schwebte eine "CyberCity" vor, deren 2,6 Millionen Bewohner gegen Gebühr überall und rund um die Uhr per Funk surfen können. Inzwischen hat die Millionenmetropole am Danshui mit Hau Lung-Bin einen neuen Bürgermeister – und das weltweit größte städtische WLAN mit rund 4200 Hot-Spots, die 52 der insgesamt 272 Quadratkilometer Stadtfläche abdecken. Allein was fehlt sind Kunden.

Read more: Taiwan: Taipeh: Kaum Interesse an weltgrößtem Hot-Spot-Netz

Taiwan remains high on the list of countries around the world that boast outstanding e-government services, trailing only to South Korean and Singapore, according to a recent survey conducted by Brown University in the United States.

Taiwan ranks third among 198 countries chosen for the annual survey conducted by Darrell M. West, director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy at Brown University.

Read more: Taiwan takes 3rd place for e-government

Over the past two decades, Taiwan's government has achieved much in terms of providing people with prompt and efficient services through simplification of administrative procedures, speeding up the handling of petition cases, eradicating administrative red tape and, most recently, establishing e-government systems to provide up-to-date information on government policies and activities.

The overall goal was to establish a transparent, efficient and modern government that is responsive and responsible to the public. Needless to say, this effort also bespeaks the development of a full-fledged democratic system in Taiwan.

Read more: Taiwan gets high rating in e-government service