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View all search resultsMayor sets goal for Taipei to overtake S'pore within 8 years
Newly-elected Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je has set a goal for the capital city: to overtake Singapore within eight years
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Newly-elected Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je has set a goal for the capital city: to overtake Singapore within eight years.
Taipei, New Taipei City, Taoyuan and Keelung are roughly equal to the "national strength" of Singapore and, if these four cities work together, they could surpass Singapore, Dr Ko said in an interview with Taiwan's United Daily News published on Sunday.
The 55-year-old doctor, who ran as an independent candidate, defeated ruling Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Sean Lien, 44, in last Saturday's local elections.
Dr Ko, in a separate interview with Liberty Times yesterday, said his first priority after taking office on December 25 is to change the bureaucratic culture in the city government and to roll out a 2050 Taipei City plan.
Asked how he intends to help Taipei overtake Singapore, Dr Ko said there are "indicators" to refer to in terms of what policies or inventions are needed in the competition among cities.
He also said Taipei's education system, standard of living and social welfare system will be different in the future.
He told The Straits Times in an interview last Friday that Singapore "is a very good model for Taiwan, especially given the similarities in our cultures".
"The area I hope we can learn most from Singapore is in the productivity and efficiency of its public servants," he said.
He said he hopes to lead a delegation to Singapore to have a deeper understanding of how this is achieved. (***)(++++)
