consumer subsidization program will involve more government organizations than that on government contracts

Economic Minster Y.S. Shih met with top brasses of Taiwan’s leading LED industry in a bid to brainstorm ideas concerning how to help the manufacturers go through hard competition compounded by the led linear high bay light economic downturn. Everlight Chairman Y.F. Yeh, Lextar Chairman David Su, EpistarPresident M.J. Jou, and LiteOn Technology Chief Executive Officer K.C. Terng, joined the MOEA-held meeting.

Firstly, the attendees expected government subsidization should address LED lighting procurers and electrical consumption, not the manufacturers. However, Shih responded that subsidizing government’s LED-streetlight contracts is easier than consumer procurements because work on consumer subsidization program will involve more government organizations than that on government contracts.

The ministry will spend NT$700 million (US$23 million at US$1: NT$30) in the next three years as subsidy for LED procurements. The fund is earmarked for financing Keelung, Hsinchu and Chiayi city governments to replace a total of 53 million mercury streetlights with LED ones. This year alone, the ministry budgets NT$170 million (US$5.6 million) for the subsidization. Also, the ministry will push for the establishment of a LED lighting joint venture between manufacturers across the Taiwan Straits.

Secondly,participants also discussed issues of cooperation between makers of both sides of the Taiwan Straits, including establishing led high bay light industry standards, protecting intellectual properties, setting up strategic alliances, and tapping markets.