Ricardo Herrero, a scholar who won this year's Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships in the United States, visited Taichung yesterday (25th). He visited Deputy Mayor Guo-Rong Huang to gain a deeper understanding of the economic and trade development, transportation planning, and agricultural support policies of Taichung City. Also, he visited the Xinshe mushroom processing plant and the Taiping bicycle industry. Moreover, Herrero met with Director Chao-Fu Yeh of the Transportation Bureau, also a winner of the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships. They exchanged ideas on topics related to urban development and transportation construction.

Deputy Mayor Huang mentioned that Taichung, situated in the center of Taiwan, enjoys transportation connections from south to north and boasts excellent economic development. Therefore, the city government has actively supported local small and medium-sized enterprises to drive Taichung's economic prosperity and growth. He also welcomes Ricardo Herrero to Taichung again to experience its human touch and delicious food.

Ricardo Herrero mentioned that this was his inaugural visit to Taiwan, but he expressed his strong desire for it not to be his last. He thinks Taichung is a great city, and he hopes to have the opportunity to visit again someday. Ricardo Herrero went to the Xinshe mushroom processing and packaging plant and cultivation farm for organic mushrooms yesterday morning. In the afternoon, he went to Taiping District to visit a bicycle company and learn about the development of Taichung's agriculture and bicycle industries.

According to the Secretariat of Taichung City Government, Taichung maintains friendly relations with the United States, and as a result, cities and personnel from both sides frequently engage in exchange visits. A foundation named after former U.S. President Eisenhower established the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships. Every year, elites in different fields are selected globally to promote substantial exchanges of leaders and talents from various countries through the Eisenhower Fellowships. They will plan their observation and learning itinerary and go deep into each visiting base according to the individual professional fields of the winners. Chao-Fu Yeh, Director of the Transportation Bureau of the Taichung City Government, is also this year’s winner. He also visited the United States to gain an in-depth understanding of transportation construction, urban planning, big data trends, energy sustainability, and other issues in major American cities from April to May.