Taipei, June 24 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Monday that his government will spend NT$38 billion (US$1.12 billion) over the next six years to build Taiwan into a "digital island."
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the formation of a strategic alliance between a media group and a fixed-line telecommunications company, Chen noted that the government's investment alone is not enough to computerize the country thoroughly and that some NT$360 billion investment is required from the private sector.
The "digital Taiwan" idea is a vital part of the president's campaign promise to convert Taiwan into a "green silicon island" before 2008, or the end of the president's second term should he win re-election in 2004.
Calling the alliance between the two network service providers "a marriage between networks," Chen said he is confident that the alliance will allow both sides to upgrade their respective services.