The Ministry of Finance (MOF) held the 24th Golden Thumb Awards for Private Participation in Infrastructure Projects Award Ceremony today (November 12) at the Taipei International Convention Center. Minister without Portfolio Chen Chin-de of the Executive Yuan and Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun presented awards at the ceremony, recognizing 15 award-winning teams for their outstanding performance in developing and operating public infrastructure. The winners comprised seven Government Agency Awards and eight Private Agency Awards. Minister without Portfolio Chen commended the teams for their long-standing commitment to public infrastructure and expressed the hope that their exemplary projects and exchanges of experience would encourage greater private participation in infrastructure projects.

In his remarks, Minister without Portfolio Chen stated that, to implement President Lai’s National Project of Hope policy blueprint and achieve the goal of a Healthy Taiwan, the government is actively promoting Long-Term Care 3.0. He commended this year’s award-winning long-term care PPP project for successfully bringing in private participation to develop long-term care facilities. In support of the net-zero transition and digital development, the Executive Yuan is also actively promoting the Trillion NT Dollar Investment National Development Plan to attract private participation in key areas, including digital infrastructure (AI computing capacity), long-term care facilities, water reclamation plants, and large-scale seawater desalination plants on Taiwan’s main island. Private investment reached NT$380.7 billion in 2025 and NT$204.7 billion through October 2026. The plan is expected to achieve its overall target of generating NT$682.9 billion in investment from 2025 to 2028. He expressed the hope that more outstanding private enterprises and abundant capital would join in national infrastructure development and work with the government to deliver higher-quality public services.

In her remarks, Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun noted that the Taichung City Renai General Long-Term Care Institution ROT Project received both the Excellence Award in the Government Agency Award category and the High Distinction Award in the Private Agency Award category this year. The project was promoted by the Taichung City Government, with investment and operation undertaken by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation. As the population ages, the need for long-term care has become a pressing reality. To provide more comprehensive long-term care facilities that better meet people’s needs, the government must continue to increase its investment, respond to local care needs, and bring in private expertise and care resources through public-private partnerships (PPP) to expand service capacity. The project achieved its target of opening 200 beds one year ahead of schedule, voluntarily increased the number of publicly funded beds in the first year from 15 to 30, and set a 45% target for residents returning home through reablement, helping elderly people regain their ability to live independently and return to familiar surroundings at home.

Minister Chuang further explained that this year’s award-winning projects span long-term care facilities, sewerage systems, medical services, cultural and educational facilities, transportation, green energy, and tourism, demonstrating the achievements of PPP across diverse types of public infrastructure. Private participation helps ease the government’s fiscal burden, accelerate infrastructure development, and improve the quality of public services. From 2002 through the end of October 2026, cumulative investment in projects involving private participation in public infrastructure exceeded NT$3 trillion. These projects are estimated to reduce government expenditure by NT$2.4 trillion and increase government revenue by NT$1.6 trillion, contributing to Taiwan’s economic development and fiscal sustainability.

Approximately 300 representatives of the award-winning teams and distinguished guests attended this year’s ceremony to celebrate the achievements of PPP. To encourage the exchange of practical experience, the MOF invited the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation to share its experience in implementing the Taichung City Renai General Long-Term Care Institution ROT Project. The presentation highlighted the results and practical approaches of PPP in long-term care, providing a reference for other authorities in charge and private institutions and encouraging further public-private collaboration to develop more high-quality public infrastructure.

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