The World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) is the largest and the most reputable international IT event in the world.  This year, WCIT 2017 is officially launched on September 11th at the Taipei International Convention Center (TICC). Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-Wen, Minister without Portfolio Wu Tsung-Tsong and Audrey Tang, National Development Council Deputy Minister Tseng Shu-cheng, and WITSA Chairman Chiu Yueh-Hsiang, along with over 3,000 guests from 80 nations jointly participated in the opening ceremony of the 3-day event to discuss about the next generation digital trend.

The return of WCIT to Taiwan, after 17 years since the island nation first hosted the event, marks the importance of digital economy in Asia.  WCIT 2017 offers the Tech Expo, WCIT2017 Book, and vast international participation.  The agenda of the event is in accordance with the government’s 5+2 industrial innovation policy.  The event demonstrates the island nation’s latest R&D achievements to the world. 

President Tsai stated that hosting the WCIT once again is a great encouragement to Taiwan’s digital transformation.  To realize the “digital economy,” the government has worked hard on regulatory reform, the Asia Silicon Valley innovation plan and strengthening digital infrastructure. There is also special budget planned for industrial advancement and balancing urban and rural development. Taiwan can thus be rid of the industrial age and become a significant role in the digital economy.

President Tsai pointed out that Taiwan has successfully transformed itself from an OEM centric economy to IT application super power and becomes the “Heart of Asia, Smart Island”.  The Taiwanese government is willing to provide all necessary resources to support the young generation in fulfilling their digital dream.  

 Minister without Portfolio Wu Tsung-Tsong said that the WCIT 2017 invited leaders from all over the world for a roundtable discussion, hoping to form a Digital Nation Alliance for cross-country long-term cooperation.  This would enable further transformation and cooperation with other participating nations post this summit.  

With this summit, Taiwan would demonstrate its long-term efforts to build green and smart cities.  Participants would focus on the main theme of this summit, innovation and smart application, and discuss how these applications fit in with daily lives.    

When Taiwan first hosted the WCIT in 2000, its strong manufacturing abilities and cooperation with international ICT companies proved to the world Taiwan’s strength in hardware manufacturing.  Today, everyone possesses smart phone, tablet, notebook, and computers.  Taiwan plays an important role in the penetration of smart living worldwide.  Seventeen years later, Taiwan is hosting the WCIT once again. Only this time, Taiwan not only does OEM, but also demonstrates the ability for innovation and system integration.

The WCIT will be hosted in Asia for the next 5 years, and Taiwan is among the first.  The Taiwanese government expects to use this summit as a platform to connect closer with Asian countries on smart application and digital economy development.

WCIT 2017 Executive Committee

International Communications Service Team – Popcorn Digital:

International Media:

Alex Chang +886-2-2357-6315 ext.409/ +886-978-332-788/ alexchang@jetgo.com.tw

WCIT 2017 Executive Committee Project Office

International Media:

David Chiang +886-2-2771-2576 #101/

+886-975-878-673/ davidchiang@iii.org.tw