The Ministry of Finance held the "2024 International Public Finance Management Seminar" yesterday （September 25）, featuring guest speakers Mr. James M. Webb from the Asian Development Bank （ADB） and Professor Jack Wu from the Department of Public Finance at National Chengchi University. They shared their experiences on optimizing financial management and applying big data in public finance. The event saw enthusiastic participation and concluded successfully.
Since 2014, the Ministry of Finance has organized the International Public Finance Management Seminar to cultivate professionals in the finance sector with a global perspective. Given the positive feedback from participants, the seminar has been held for a total of seven sessions in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2023. Topics have included budget management, public financial management, financial evaluation of international public infrastructure projects, public-private partnerships, public debt management, and sustainable development financing, all aimed at broadening the international outlook and enhancing the professional competencies of finance personnel.
This year’s seminar was attended by 74 participants from central and local agencies responsible for finance, accounting, and economic affairs. The event was kicked off with welcoming remarks from Director-General Po-Cheng Chen of the National Treasury Administration, followed by keynote speeches. Professor Jack Wu gave a presentation on "Big Data Leading Global Fiscal Innovation," while Mr. James M. Webb, Senior Public Management Economist at the ADB, addressed "Public Financial Management in a Changing World."
In the morning session, Professor Wu provided an insightful overview of the application and challenges of big data in public finance, including its role in macroeconomic and fiscal forecasting, preventing public spending abuses, and detecting tax evasion, supported by numerous international case studies. In the afternoon, the session centered on Mr. James’s practical experiences, providing an overview of the key elements of effective Public Financial Management （PFM） systems and the pathways for reform, using examples from some of ADB's work and his involvement in the Pacific.
Additionally, a knowledge exchange session was arranged between Ms. Shu-Yi Wang, a director at the National Treasury Administration, and Mr. James, where they discussed Taiwan’s budget management system. The event concluded with a Q&A session between the participants and speakers, further enhancing the learning experience, bringing the seminar to a successful close.
The Ministry of Finance noted that the seminar not only broadened the international perspective and language proficiency of finance personnel but also aimed to enhance financial management capabilities by drawing on international experiences in fiscal reform and big data integration. This will help maintain the sustainability of government finances and foster new approaches to building a digital government.
Contact Information: Senior Auditor Liu, Debt Management Division
Tel: 02-23228350