V. Future
Prospects and Vision
In recent years, globalization and technical
advances have accelerated an ever more intensive competition among nations with
trade and economy as the axis. To
cope with the trend of liberalization and internationalization, each country
has taken aggressive measures to position itself in a world of globalized
production, marketing and R&D operations. The gradual elimination of restrictions on the free movement
of elements of production, goods and capital, plus the ever more speedy
circulation of industrial information, all work together to deepen global
economic integration. With its
accumulation over generations and its widening application, technology is
advancing in an amazing speed. Keen competition in markets around the world has resulted in the shortening
of time for R&D and mass production, as well as product life cycles. It has further caused rapid and volatile
changes in the structure and competitive strategies of industries.
Looking to the future, industries in Taiwan must
continue their efforts in upgrading themselves, and the government and
industries need to work together to improve the environment for industrial
development, while at the same time, equally emphasizing growth in quantity as
well as quality. We must strive to
follow the six directions for industrial development, namely, strong market
potential, high development potential, advanced technical level, high added
value, low pollution, and low reliance on energy, and build up capability in
R&D and innovation, design and marketing to maintain our core
competitiveness. Only through
these joint efforts can Taiwan truly become an important R&D and
operational stronghold as well as a major base for production and supply of
high value-added products to the world.
Table 12 Overall Objectives for the Manufacturing Industry
| Year |
2003 |
2008 |
| National economic
growth rate (%) |
3.24 |
3.5 |
| Manufacturing industry
growth rate (%) |
9.1 |
6.6 |
| Total production of the
manufacturing industry (in US$billion) |
254.5 |
350.5 |
| High human capital
intensity (%) |
50 |
57 |
Average value of
annual production value per employee
(in US$ thousand) |
110 |
150 |
| Ratio of R&D
expenditures against revenue (%) |
1.3 |
2.5 |
|
Source: GNP of Taiwan, ROC, Monthly Bulletin of Earnings and Productivity
Statistics, Cross-century National Construction Plan, Taiwan Institute of
Economic Research, and National Science Council, Executive Yuan. The 2008 figures are based on forecasts
of the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research as commissioned by the IDB. |
