Taipei City Government

Mayor Ko Wen-je joined top-rank IT managers from industries to exchange ideas on the realization of a cashless city at a forum highlighting digital payment on April 19.
 
During his address, the mayor reiterated the key approach adopted by the city’s new policies: from the inside and expand outward, beginning from the public sector and spreading the practice across all sectors. Ko noted that decision-making involves consideration of three elements: public opinion, professional input, and value. He said value is the most difficult part, since it requires much communication. 
 
According to Ko, despite the relatively low number of cases involving counterfeit money and robberies and the ubiquity of ATM machines, the factors that make Taipei a safe and convenient city can become obstacles for policies seeking to raise public awareness on digital payment. He believes that finding ways to drive behavioral changes among the public will be the key to realizing a cashless society.
 
The mayor cited many of the city’s existing measures that promote cashless payments and said that EasyCard is an import tool in the city’s move toward a cashless society. He also admitted the inherence of risks in digital payment and stressed the importance of risk management and an honest attitude in identifying problems and making corrections.
 
The City will continue spearheading the shift to digital payment, seeking to implement cashless transaction to residents in shortest time possible, the mayor pledged.