The 25th ATCOC Annual Assembly in Taichung opened today (16) with speech by Mayor Lin Chia-lung on the topic of economy and the coming up Flora Expo in Taichung. More than a decades ago when he arrived in the city, Lin believed that Taichung was the city to bring Taiwan up. Now that the infrastructure and soft power are in place, with recent overseas Taiwanese investment increased from 10.7 billion NTD in 2014, to 22.2 billion NTD this year, and 815.6 billion NTD investment on major constructions, the city is surely linking with the world, standing out from Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Prior to the presentation, 2 clips of Flora Expo brought the 11/3 grand opening event to the participants while displaying the renovation achievement of Ruanpizai Creek and Luchuan within Flora Expo Huludun zone. “Taichung is gradually and steadily going up and nice.” Lin said, “Better city landscape, more secured surrounding, it has been a living friendly city for people local and around the world. Taichung, is the capital of living.”

Taichung is rising its economic performance, says Mayor Lin, and the surrounding counties as well. For more than a decades when he arrived at Taichung, he believed that Taichung is the city to bring Taiwan up. In recent years overseas Taiwanese investment in Taichung is climbing from 2014’s 10.7 billion NTD, to 2015’s 11.6 billion NTD, 2016’s 12.6 billion NTD, and 2017’s 22.2 billion NTD. Simply this year the total amount has grown 75.4% more than last year.

For the past three years private participation in public construction, including Lin Mao-yang Old Residence, Central Taiwan Film Base and Waipu composting plant, etc., has exceeded the amount of 5.8 billion NTD; for major industrial investment, total 815.6 billion NTD is put into projects such as TSMC’s expansion at CTSP, Micron output enhancement, and Cathay Logistic Republic. Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium also funded by private organizations at 71 billion NTD.

In the “5+2 Industrial innovation Program”, Taichung, the city of Smart Machinery”, will be demonstrating the industry of precision machinery by consolidating vertical lines of machinery, optics and electronics industry, says Lin.

Excellent industries’ dwelling in and excellent convention facility are the key components to the advancement. Central and local contributed billions in the intelligent, low-carbon, innovative Shuinan Smart City to found a Shuinan Int’l Convention Center expected to enhance Taichung’s exhibition and conference functions. Serve as the core of industrial development and promotion, Taichung is connecting directly to global stage and standing out from Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Lin had in mind that the construction of “Great Taichung 123” would have taken up to one to two decades to complete, but so far in three years the progress has made certain level of completion. Lin took the example of Taichung, Taiwan’s only regional project approved municipality, where the city government holds direct control of urban lands including industrial purpose lands。

On track construction, of total NTD 202.4 billion, 89.9 billion came from the central. And by expansion over existing stations, infrastructure is built with minimum expense. Since National Development Council has approved Taichung Int’l Airport 2035 Project, the ongoing construction is proceeding “Great Taichung 123” toward “Dreams coming true 123”.