An important Swiss economic institute ranks Taiwan among 58 nations. Germany, Japan and Austria lead the pack but the island nation, which excels in solar-cell batteries, outshines Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong. Over the next few years, the government plans to invest US$ 1.5 billion in green technology.

Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Lausanne-based Institute for Management Development (IMD) has ranked Taiwan sixth in terms of its global green technology capability, including its solar-cell battery industry. Results are available in the IMD survey--the 2010 World Competiveness Yearbook, which was released on 19 May. Germany, Japan and Austria ranked top three nations.

“Green technologies have quickly become competitive advantages,” the IMD study said. Emerging economies are well on their way to develop renewable energy technologies.

Taiwan scored 6.7 out of 10 in the green technology category, second in Asia only to Japan, which is second in the world. It beat out other Asian nations like Singapore (14), South Korea (15) and Hong Kong (31).

Taiwan’s efforts in developing solar cell batteries have put it in an enviable position. In fact, its cell battery industry has a global market share of 25 per cent.

Sources said that over the next few years, the government plans to invest a about US$ 1.5 billion in renewable energy technologies.

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