1. Background

The APEC Digital Opportunity Center (ADOC) Project is an ECOTECH[1] initiative that Chinese Taipei first raised in the 2003 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. It aims to assist in transforming digital divides into digital opportunities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

The ADOC initiative utilizes the advantages of Chinese Taipei’s information and communications industry and its experience in developing an e-society to help  APEC member economies upgrade their information and communications technology (ICT) application capabilities and transform the digital divide into a digital opportunity. The initiative has three main objectives: to increase Chinese Taipei’s international visibility and participation, to strengthen relations with other APEC members, and to develop business opportunities in the APEC region.

2. Outcome of First Phase ADOC Project (Aug. 2004-2008)

The first phase ADOC project, as a self-funded project, was launched in August 2004 and concluded at the end of 2008. Chinese Taipei contributed more than US$10 million. In collaboration with seven APEC member economies, including Chile, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, 43 ADOC Centers in these partner economies have been established, with more than 600 PCs donated. And around 70,000 people have received training at various ADOC centers.  A wide range of training programs are available through these Centers, and their achievements have earned praise from APEC member economies.

In the 2008 APEC AMM Joint Statement, Ministers recognized the progress of the APEC Digital Opportunity Centre (ADOC) and welcomed the launch of an extended effort (ADOC 2.0 Project) among concerned economies to bridge digital divides.

3. Second Phase ADOC Project (ADOC 2.0)

To build on the present foundation and maintain momentum, we raised the proposal of the second phase ADOC project, i.e. ADOC 2.0 at the 2007 APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. The main idea of the ADOC 2.0 project is to increase the cooperation between the public and private sectors with focus on capacity building activities for disadvantaged groups. In 2009, Mexico joined the ADOC 2.0 project as the 8th ADOC partner economy.

(1). Objective

The main objective of ADOC 2.0 project is to reduce digital divides in the APEC region by enabling people to overcome technological limitations due to age, gender, health, social or education status, and to enjoy the 4A (anytime, anyone, anywhere, anything) benefits of the digitalization.

A wide range of ICT training programs will be provided, tailored to the needs of partner economies and focused on the disadvantaged groups in remote areas, including women and children.

The project features the wide involvement of private sector, including major ICT firms and non-profit organizations. Through close public-private partnership, “best practices” model for APEC will be established by synergizing the various resources and the strength from sponsors.

(2). Major Work Plan for 2009

l      Establishing 7 to 12 ADOC 2.0 e-Learning Digital Centers in partner member economies. These centers will focus on improving ICT skills, and around 3,000 people will be trained.

l      Sustaining the operations of the 43 existing ADOC centers. As many as 15,840 people will be trained in the ADOC 2.0 program in 2009.

l      Holding e-Training programs in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. These training programs will not only enhance the trainers’ teaching ability, but also strengthen experience-sharing on the Mandarin e-Learning program, PC refurbishment program, and on e-commerce and ICT trade.

l      Organizing ADOC 2.0 Week 2009 in Chinese Taipei from the 5th to 9th of October, 2009. This will include, besides the annual ADOC 2.0 Plenary, fortified exchanges of experience on actions so far taken to reduce digital divides throughout APEC, and activities such as ADOC 2.0 Night, during which awards will be issued for best contributions, and so on. Senior officials, experts and business representatives from the eight partner member economies as well as other interested economies are welcome to attend these events.

(3). Organizational Structure

l      Public Sector

–      Steering Committee: As the decision-making entity, a Steering Committee is comprised of top-level representatives from the Council for Economic Planning and Development (CEPD), Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Mr. Stan Shih (the founder of the Acer Group), and the Tzu Chi Foundation.

–      Task Force: The Task Force is comprised of representatives from the Department of International Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), the CEPD, the Computer Center of the Ministry of Education, the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) of MOEA, and the Project Non-government Office. The Task Force is responsible for coordinating external and internal communication, and convening intra-agency meetings.

l      Private Sector

–      Non-Government Steering Committee: As a decision-making entity, this Committee  is comprised of representatives from chief or high-ranking executives in private organizations.

–      Non-Government Office: This Office serves as a communication window between private-sector members and the ADOC 2.0 Project Task Force, and coordinates the involvement of the private sector in the project.

l      Organizational Chart