With a view to promoting Taiwan’s support for the guiding and development of the information and technology (ICT) industry across the Asia-Pacific region, senior technical specialist Mr. Morris Lin of the National Communications Commission (NCC) was successfully appointed as the new Vice-Chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Telecommunications and Information Working Group (APEC TEL) during its 51st meeting held in the Philippines in May. Mr. Lin took up the position with immediate effect and begins a new realm of the country’s diplomatic leadership concerning ICT.
Mr. Lin’s term as Vice-Chair of APEC TEL will run through until the conclusion of the 55th meeting held in 2017, when, in accordance with official convention, he will take up the position of Chair, the highest role a Chinese Taipei delegate has assumed since its involvement in APEC TEL began in 1991.
APEC is especially significant to the nation as it participates as a full Member as Chinese Taipei. Moreover, ICT is considered as the primary driving force behind innovation and economic development, and it is a key area of Taiwan’s competitiveness. Mr. Lin’s appointment as Vice-Chair of APEC TEL, therefore, should oversee an increase in regional ICT development and promote the country with view to greater participation or contribution to the international community concerning ICT development.
With very broad issues and many participants, APEC TEL is divided into three steering groups. The administrative guidance and coordination of the Chair and the assistant of Vice-Chair are crucial in order to ensure that all voices are heard and the conference proceeds smoothly. Moreover, the Vice-Chair’s work also includes assisting in drafting the annual plan, strategic action plan, and the ministerial declaration, as well as other related initiatives, many of which are closely linked with the high-end meetings, steering committees or other working groups.
The Chair acts as the representative of APEC TEL to fulfill the decisions of and to report to the high-end steering committees or meetings, such as the Committee on Trade and Investment (CTI), SOM Steering Committee on ECOTECH (SCE) and Budget Management Committee (BMC), Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), the Telecommunications and Information Ministerial Meeting (TELMIN); the Chair is also the primary means of contact between APEC TEL and ITU, OECD, and other international organizations.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that asides from ICT development and the regulatory environment, the current focus of APEC TEL has been actively planning for emerging services, such as the digital economy, Internet of Things (IOT), Big data, and Over the Top (OTT) services, as well as other ICT applications and content development services – all of which should be fully grasped by Taiwan. By gaining deeper understanding of these issues and the direction of ICT development and policies, we hope that we can demonstrate the strength of our own ICT development and boost development across the region, thereby increasing our industry interests.
