Delegation to discuss 5G with tech giants on US visit

BICOASTAL TOUR: Delegates are to visit US tech and telecom giants while attending high-profile forums on two coasts in efforts to bolster national infrastructure plans

Staff writer, with CNA

National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin (???) is leading a delegation to the US to discuss exchanges on 5G development with tech giants including Microsoft Corp and Alphabet Inc’s Google.

The delegation departed on Saturday for the 11-day visit, with stops in San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, Kung said.

The 41-member NextGen Telecom Delegation is scheduled to visit Microsoft, Google and Amazon.com Inc to seek opportunities for 5G cooperation, Kung said.

National Development Council Minister Kung Ming-hsin speaks at a news conference in Taipei on Nov. 21, 2020.

Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times

The council has been pushing a massive eight-year infrastructure plan under the Special Act on the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program (??????????), which was passed by the legislature 2017 and proposes investing up to NT$840 billion (US$28.26 billion) to bolster Taiwan’s 5G networks, among other projects.

Meanwhile, the government has initiated its Asian Silicon Valley plan to further secure Taiwan’s 5G development and localize the production of 5G equipment.

The delegation also plans to visit several US firms involved in the development of blockchain, composite materials and components, and 3D projection technologies.

The council said the delegation includes officials from the agency and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, as well as representatives from Taiwanese enterprises such as Chunghwa Telecom Co (????), iPhone assembler Pegatron Corp (??), contract notebook computer maker Compal Electronics Inc (??) and data center solution provider Quanta Cloud Technology Inc (????).

Kung said that Taiwan’s 5G development abilities would be enhanced if the visits encourage participation from US firms, and would carve a path for the development of artificial intelligence of things endeavors.

The council and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is scheduled to hold a NextGen Telecom roundtable in Silicon Valley, where Taiwanese delegates are expected to meet with representatives from major US telecom equipment developers such as smartphone IC designer Qualcomm Inc, the council said, adding that AIT Director Sandra Oudkirk was instrumental in securing Taiwan’s participation in the forum.

The delegation also plans to visit officials in Washington state to discuss the 5G Open Innovation policy, the council said.

Kung and Minister Without Portfolio John Deng (???), Taiwan’s top trade negotiator, are to attend the SelectUSA Investment Summit in the US capital, an annual event sponsored by the US Department of Commerce that focuses on facilitating job-creating investment in the US market, the council said.

Kung is also to deliver speeches at two think tanks, the Global Taiwan Institute and the German Marshall Fund, to tout efforts between Taipei and Washington to build a resilient global supply chain and forge ties, the council said.

Kung is to conclude the US visit on Wednesday next week before he leads another Taiwanese delegation to Japan for exchanges on renewable energy development, such as hydrogen power and carbon capture, it said, adding that the Japan delegation is to comprise representatives of more than 30 Taiwanese start-ups.

Kung is scheduled to return to Taipei on July 6.