TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan has issued more than 700 special employment gold cards to digital experts since launching the program nearly two years ago, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said Saturday.

As of the end of February, 764 applicants had received gold cards, with 60% specializing in software development, per CNA. Others were primarily engaged in fields such as computer program design, online trade, and cybersecurity.

Roughly one-third of the recipients came from the US, followed by applicants from Singapore, India, and Hong Kong. The ministry said it will continue focusing efforts on attracting digital talent from North America and Asia.

Originally launched by the National Development Council in 2018 to recruit foreign professionals across 11 sectors, the gold card program was expanded in May 2023 when the Ministry of Digital Affairs established new criteria specific to digital talent.

In recent months, officials have stepped up global outreach. In January, the council and ministry led a delegation to California’s Silicon Valley to meet with tech firms and promote the program. A similar mission traveled to Chennai and Bengaluru the previous month, citing India’s role as a major exporter of software talent.