Taichung City Government is vigorously promoting digital and net-zero dual-axis transition, with Mayor Lu Shiow-yen further proposing the strategic goal of "digital power is city competitiveness". Mayor Lu presided over the city council meeting on the 13th and stated that during the city government's recent visit to the United States, they visited Microsoft's headquarters for exchange and learning. In addition to learning about technology development trends and understanding the technology applications for building smart cities, the city government also explained to Microsoft the current development status of Taichung City in smart cities. Recently, Microsoft headquarters executives publicly praised Taichung City's applications and promotion effectiveness in smart cities, saying it was "quite remarkable!" Mayor Lu also hopes to use this to let the public understand Taichung's effectiveness in smart cities.

 Mayor Lu pointed out that Microsoft promotes digital services in many countries and cities, so the company understands very well the difficulties in promoting related businesses. During this visit to the United States, the city government introduced to Microsoft the management, application, and service status and effectiveness of Taichung City in smart cities. Recently, Kirk Arthur, General Manager of the Government Solutions Business Department of Microsoft's Global Public Affairs Group, publicly praised on social media the promotion effectiveness and convenient measures of Taichung City Government in smart cities. Mayor Lu stated that it is not easy to be recognized by the world's top technology companies and called on various departments to continue to cooperate with Digital Affairs Bureau to continuously improve various management and convenient service matters and other smart work.

 Digital Affairs Bureau Director Lin Ku-Lung gave a special report today on the topic of "Service e-Counter, Citizen Service Big Platform", explaining that since Mayor Lu took office, the city government has promoted many online municipal services. Digital Affairs Bureau has further cross-agency integrated and launched the "Service e-Counter" online platform, compiling over 2,600 online services, covering online applications, venue bookings, and the first-in-Taiwan "Public Advertising Board Online Application" service, encouraging citizens to make more use of it.

"Taichung City Government's online application usage rate have increased by 3 times, with carbon reduction equivalent to 2.3 Wenxin Forest Parks!" Director Lin stated that the city government attaches great importance to digitalization, so when Mayor Lu was re-elected, the primary task was to establish Digital Affairs Bureau, and digital transition and net-zero transition complement each other. Digital Affairs Bureau's "Service e-Counter" has provided citizens with over 150,000 online applications, not only saving citizens from traveling back and forth but also reducing carbon emissions from transportation and paper waste, equivalent to about 2.3 Wenxin Forest Parks' annual carbon absorption, which is also an actual behavior to encourage citizens to implement net-zero carbon reduction.

 Director Lin also said that Digital Affairs Bureau continues to work hand in hand with various departments to develop more services, such as the online application for public advertising boards, which is an exclusive function of Taichung City Government. Currently, there are 90 public advertising boards available for public use. Digital Affairs Bureau also continues to adopt suggestions from all sectors to optimize the functions of the "Service e-Counter" to benefit and convenience citizens.

 Digital Affairs Bureau also made additional information about the integration of various city government online application services and counter form downloads in "Service e-Counter", with a "keyword search" function to facilitate citizens in conducting business online. The public can use the "Taichung Pass" APP for linked login, and the "Online Application" on the APP homepage can directly connect to the "Service e-Counter". Citizens are welcome to download and use it (https://gov.tw/qQg).