TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The National Development Council said Thursday that Taiwan invested NT$739.2 billion (US$22.59 billion) in public infrastructure last year, the highest in nearly 17 years.

NDC Chair Liu Chin-ching (劉鏡清) said at a committee meeting that several major public construction projects were completed by the end of last year, per CNA. Examples include the Fengming Temporary Station, improving transportation in Yingge District, and the Taoyuan Convention and Exhibition Center (Messe Taoyuan), which opened in October.

Other projects include the Pingtung King Boat Museum and the southbound exit ramp connecting National Freeway 3's Daxi interchange to Provincial Highway 66.

This year, other major expansion projects are expected to be completed, including Taoyuan’s Datan Power Plant Unit 7, designed to meet rising power needs, and a section of Provincial Highway 76 near Xianxi Township, Chiayi County, to ease traffic flow.

However, the government’s budget this year has been significantly cut by the legislature. Liu urged all ministries to prioritize resource allocation and coordination to ensure national construction projects go smoothly.