AIT DIRECTOR HOSTS DINNER FOR WCIT 2006

UNCLAS TAIPEI 004868 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/TC, EB/CIP Timothy Finton DEPT PASS TO AIT/W E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECPS ETRD TW SUBJECT: AIT DIRECTOR HOSTS DINNER FOR WCIT 2006 REPRESENTATIVES REF: STATE 204494 ¶1. As requested reftel, AIT Director hosted a dinner December 9, 2005, in Taipei for representatives from the World Congress on Information Technology 2006 with guests from the Taiwan authorities and information technology industry. Taiwan participants included Minister of State Lin Feng-ching, Minister of the Research and Development Evaluation Commission Yeh Jiunn- rong, and Ministry of Economic Affairs Vice Minister Shih Yen- shiang. The guests also included senior executives from major Taiwan information technology firms, such as Acer, Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC),and Teco Electronic and Machinery Company, as well as leaders from industry organizations like the Institute for Information Industry, the Information Technology Research Institute, the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association, and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council. ¶2. The WCIT representatives who participated were Donna Wilcox, Chief Operating Officer; Clay Pope, Executive Committee Member; and Terry Cooke, International WCIT Ambassador. They briefed the attendees on preparations for WCIT 2006 and laid out a plan for further coordination with Taiwan, which will include two more visits to Taiwan by WCIT representatives. They indicated to AIT that their discussions with Taiwan officials and industry leaders at the event had been productive and that they expected substantial Taiwan participation at WCIT 2006. PAAL