TAIWAN

NTT Data Joint Venture Aimed at Financial Institutions: Nippon Telegraph & Telephone’s NTT Data Communications Systems Corp. subsidiary said it will set up a joint venture in Taiwan to develop and market information and banking system software to Taiwanese financial institutions. NTT Data and First International Computer Inc., a Taiwanese computer maker, will set up the venture, First Data Systems Inc. NTT Data will hold a 35% stake, First International will have a 52% share and other partners will hold the remaining 13%. NTT Data said the liberalization and internationalization of Taiwan’s markets should open opportunities to provide system integration services as competition forces banks to automate and rely increasingly on computer systems. The joint venture will develop information and banking system software for Taiwanese financial firms, aimed at new service areas such as automated teller machines.