Mao pledges proactive public administration

2014-12-22

Premier Mao Chi-kuo called for a paradigm shift among public servants Dec. 18, urging them to change their mindset and values so as to better respond to the latest developments at home and abroad and address the concerns of the public.

“The government needs to find methods for success rather than excuses for failure or lack of action,” Mao said. “In terms of performance evaluation, the focus should be on what has been achieved instead of what has been done.”

According to the premier, all policymaking should be directed toward the goals of finding outlets for youth, support for the elderly, opportunities for enterprises and a dignified living environment for the disadvantaged.

“The Cabinet is working on concrete measures toward these ends by coordinating interagency cooperation and taking stock of existing projects,” he said, adding that it is imperative to adopt a humble and sincere attitude with respect to public communication.

In particular, Mao urged the new Cabinet to work closely with the private sector by leveraging all available social service resources and Internet technologies so as to better bridge the physical and virtual worlds.

“Using open data and big data concepts, we can gather public opinion and compare that information with the government’s administrative policies and results,” he said.

The Cabinet is establishing an innovation and entrepreneurship policy board to generate business opportunities and jobs for youth. It is also drafting rules to govern alternative micro-fundraising mechanisms, such as crowdsourcing and crowdfunding.

The new policymaking body will be responsible for promoting business environment innovation, industry-academia collaboration, international links, regulatory harmonization and societal innovation.

Mao said he has directed Vice Premier Chang San-cheng to supervise the matter, with Minister without Portfolio Duh Tyzz-jiun in charge of coordinating inter-ministerial efforts.

According to the Cabinet, these measures are all part of the Board of Science and Technology’s plan for better online communication and public governance.

The BOST initiative includes setting up a single portal to provide complete and updated information on major government policies, as well as an online platform for the public to express their complaints, opinions and suggestions.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=225382&CtNode=413)