TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Partnering with Microsoft and Amazon, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) launched its AI training program on Thursday (Aug. 1).

The MOEA in a Thursday press release said the first basic AI courses will be held in Tainan and Taichung. The goal is to accelerate the adoption of AI applications in the manufacturing industry in central and southern Taiwan and to enhance the country's international competitiveness, per CNA.

The ministry said the program was designed with international giants Microsoft and Amazon. The courses cover a range of topics from fundamental AI knowledge to practical applications, including both discriminative and generative AI theories and practices, it added.

“To ensure balanced regional development, the focus in August will be on key industries in central and southern Taiwan, such as chemicals, textiles, machine tools, bicycles, and steel,” the ministry explained.

The ministry said it plans to expand courses to other parts of Taiwan. It said it hopes to accelerate industrial AI adoption and help Taiwan become an “AI island.”