Taiwan's government will invest NT$26.2 billion (US$804 million) over a four- year period to make Taiwan into a cultural and creative hub in the Asia Pacific region, with the aim of creating 43,000 jobs and a production value of more than NT$1 trillion by 2013. Fang Jy-Shiuh, director of the Council for Cultural Affairs' (CCA's) first department, said Tuesday the plan has been devised to promote development of cultural and creative industries and help them to tap into the Chinese market. Cultural and creative industries can include industries such as the local pop music, film, television, designing, handicraft and digital content industries. Fang told reporters the project also aims to help at least 800 creative and cultural works win international prizes and forge NT$1.2 billion-worth of international cooperation deals. The project is intended to generate more than 20 percent growth in media production value, triple overseas sales of media products, and stimulate local consumption of cultural and creative products and services, Fang said. The CAA also aims to boost the ratio of cultural consumption expenditure to total household income from the current 13 percent to 15 percent by 2013, Fang added. The motive behind the government's plan to boost the development of the industries is to accelerate industry transformation, invigorate the weak industries and create jobs, Fang said. Taiwan's cultural and creative industries are now facing challenges of innovation. For example, the publishing sector is at a crucial stage of developing digital content products to maintain competitiveness, according to Fang. The CCA will focus its efforts on bridging the gap of the industries' development between urban and rural areas and in helping small and medium businesses in the industries. The cultural innovation industry is one of six flagship industries selected by the government for major development which also include tourism and leisure, medical care, biotechnology, green energy, and refined agriculture. 