The 21st World Congress on Information Technology wrapped up Sept. 13 in Taipei City, setting a record for the highest number of foreign participants in the history of the 39-year event.
 
More than 1,000 attendees from abroad joined around 3,000 locals in discussing economic and political trends, emerging markets and technologies, new business opportunities, and laws and policymaking at the four-day congress. The participants comprised academics, captains of industry and government officials tasked with managing and shaping the future of the global IT industry.
 
At the closing ceremony, Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin said the event enabled Taiwan to showcase its information communication technology achievements, as well make a significant contribution to advancing the international digital economy.
 
In praising the inaugural Leaders’ Roundtable, Shen added that he hopes it will be included in the program of future WCIT gatherings and develop into a major platform for cross-border collaboration and policymaking on key technology-related challenges and issues.

One of the highlights of WCIT, co-organized by Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and U.S.-headquartered World Information Technology and Services Alliance, was the presentation Sept. 12 of the Global ICT Excellence Awards. The highly coveted honors recognize innovative digital solutions improving the connectivity, productivity, prosperity and well-being of people around the world.
 
Flying the flag for Taiwan on the winners’ podium were Taipei-based Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection Co. and Institute for Information Industry. The former collected the Private Sector Excellence Award for its global intelligent traffic management system, while the latter bagged the Mobile Excellence Award for a smart glasses industrial solution package allowing staff at remote sites to repair and maintain equipment, as well as the Innovative E-Health Solution Award for an intelligent, portable and self-operating feedback system.
 
Other recipients included Internet Watch Foundation, a U.K.-based nonprofit working to minimize the availability of online sexual abuse content; cosmoONE, a Greece-headquartered firm promoting e-procurement processes; and Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transportation for increasing broadband coverage in the Latin American country.
 
According to the MOEA, select WCIT participants will embark on a program of industry and culture tours comprising Taiwan’s eight major cities. The goal is to bring them up to speed on the latest economic developments, as well as introduce the country’s distinctive culture and natural scenery.
 
WCIT is one of the most important events in the global IT industry’s calendar. The next four editions of the annual congress are set to be hosted by India, Armenia, Malaysia and Bangladesh. (SFC-E)

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