TAIPEI: President Ma Ying-jeou said Friday that Taiwan would invest around 328.5 billion Taiwanese dollars (10.27 billion US) in infrastructure projects to help boost its economy.

Projects include a metro system connecting Taoyuan airport with the capital and the expansion of a science park in the centre of the country, which alone will create 12,000 jobs in five years, Ma said in a New Year address.

"We will seize the economic revival to push for major investment projects," he said. "The year ahead is a critical year to invigorate Taiwan's economy."

The government will also continue to offer employment incentives in a bid to create 100,000 new jobs, he said.

Taiwan plunged into recession in late 2008 amid the global financial crisis, although its economy has shown signs of improvement in recent months, with jobless rates easing and export orders growing.