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June 6, 2000
ROCKEFELLER TO LEAD HIGH-TECH TRIP TO TAIWAN
WASHINGTON —U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) announced today that he will travel to Taiwan next week to participate in the world's largest meeting of political and technology leaders. The Senator, who will be joined by representatives of Marshall University and West Virginia University, will address the World Congress on Information Technology. The event will feature Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Cisco CEO and West Virginia native John Chambers. The Senator will also participate in meetings of the U.S.-ROC Business Council, which will also be discussing high-tech issues.
Rockefeller, who will be the only representative of the U.S. Congress to attend the information technology event, said, "Taiwan is known as the gateway to the Asia Pacific and is quickly becoming a world leader in technology. It was a very different story when I first went on a trade mission to Taiwan in the 1980's. Then, they had no information technology industry, and we built a relationship between West Virginia and Asia based on industrial investment. My priority with this trip is to begin a new phase in this relationship that is based on technology. I want our state to begin to tap the great high-tech opportunities that the ‘new economy' has created in Taiwan and throughout Asia."
"When I address the world's technology leaders, I also intend to send a message that rural or remote regions of the world must not be left behind in the technology revolution," Rockefeller continued. "There are far too many parts of our country and the world that have not shared in the economic expansion that has been fueled by technology. While it's easy for companies to focus on Silicon Valley or other technology-heavy regions, I want the world to know that there are incredible opportunities in places like West Virginia. Forward-thinking companies like Amazon.com have already recognized that we offer a great business environment and a dedicated workforce that can help technology businesses succeed."
The World Congress on Information Technology is a biannual event that brings together political and business leaders to discuss the future of technology. Rockefeller will be a featured speaker during the event and, as the Chairman of the US-ROC Business Council, he will also lead several panel discussions. In addition, he will hold individual meetings with several Taiwanese leaders, including President Chen Shui-bian and Premier Tang Fei.
The Senator will be joined for the event by Dr. Gary Lang, Provost and Vice President of Academic Research at West Virginia University and Dr. Dan Angel, President of Marshall University.
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