Taichung Mayor Lu Hsiu-yen attended the European Chamber of Commerce Taiwan (ECCT) luncheon today (27th), where she gave a speech and interacted warmly with Chairman Giuseppe Izzo, CEO Freddie Höglund, and other European business representatives. Mayor Lu began her speech with the universal topic of gourmet food and presented the diverse charms of Taichung under the theme “The Appeal of Taichung” in English. She emphasized the city’s achievements in enhancing the local economy, attracting industrial investments, and fostering sustainability. She also expressed admiration for Europe’s dedication to environmental protection and climate change and thanked European businesses for their contributions to Taichung’s offshore wind power and other industries. Mayor Lu looks forward to forging stronger partnerships with European businesses.

Quoting the adage, “It’s such a delight to have friends visiting from afar!” Mayor Lu welcomed the distinguished guests with Taichung’s local bubble tea. She emphasized the shared vision of fostering Taiwan-Europe economic growth between the city government and the European Chamber of Commerce, noting Taichung's proactive efforts. This year, the city government boosted its international profile by inviting diplomats from various countries to star in advertisements for the Taichung Shopping Festival. At the luncheon, Mayor Lu personally demonstrated how to download and use the TC PASS (Taichung Shopping Festival App), giving the attendees a firsthand taste of the festival’s charm.

Mayor Lu thanked the ECCT for choosing Taichung as the location for their meeting. She noted that Taichung has been thriving, especially in terms of economic achievements, with increasing amounts of foreign investment. While proud of these achievements, she expressed aspirations for even greater economic progress for both Taichung and Taiwan. In her speech, she detailed the city’s investment landscape, its partnership with the ECCT, and its current economic development, providing attendees with a clearer view of Taichung's investment environment. ECCT CEO Freddie Höglund emphasized Taichung’s significance to the ECCT, noting its substantial membership base and major contributions to offshore wind energy projects. He added that hosting the meeting in Taichung underscored this importance and that he was delighted to have Mayor Lu as a guest speaker.

Mayor Lu highlighted Taiwan's recent struggles with energy issues, including power shortages and air pollution, stressing the importance of finding and developing effective green energy solutions. She pointed out that European investments in Taichung have largely focused on wind power, which is also one of the most significant projects by ECCT members in the city. With Taiwan's top wind resources, a skilled workforce, and supportive local government, Taichung is exceptionally well-positioned for wind power development. Wind and green energy are set to become pivotal sectors for Taichung's future. The city offers everything the industry needs, from machinery and manpower to suitable venues. Therefore, green energy development is not only an energy policy but also a critical direction for the future of industrial development in Taichung.

Mayor Lu recalled her early visit to the UK and the Netherlands after taking office, where she was struck by Europe’s commitment to environmental sustainability. Taichung, which houses Taiwan's largest coal power plant, has faced persistent air pollution challenges. To address this, she has championed the power plant's transformation, aiming to reduce coal use by 20%—a reduction of three million tons—while steadfastly protecting the city’s air quality. On the trade and economic side, Taichung boasts Asia’s premier wind resources, attracting substantial investments from Siemens Gamesa, Ørsted, and Enercon. Additionally, the city takes pride in its leading bike and machine tool manufacturers, including Hiwin, Giant, and Marwi, which have established a strong presence in European markets such as Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Hungary. Mayor Lu looks forward to further strengthening ties and fostering new opportunities for collaboration.

The Economic Development Bureau noted that according to the central government’s statistics, Taiwan-EU trade and tourism have shown consistent growth over the years. By September this year, Taiwan’s exports to the EU had reached $209 billion, with imports at $196 billion. Tourism numbers also saw steady increases, with 310,000 Taiwanese traveling to Europe and 340,000 Europeans visiting Taiwan in 2023. Additionally, data from the ECCT shows that its members have invested a total of $67 billion in Taiwan, highlighting Europe’s significance as a key partner in both tourism and economic development. The Taichung City Government has previously partnered with the ECCT to host forums centered on environmental sustainability, garnering attention from industries, academia, and policymakers. Looking ahead, the city government aims to deepen Taiwan-Europe collaboration through continued multidisciplinary exchanges.

The Economic Development Bureau noted that the ECCT, founded in 1988, is committed to advancing the business interests of European companies in Taiwan and currently represents nearly 1,000 member companies. In its 2025 Position Paper released this year, the ECCT provided 189 recommendations aimed at helping Taiwan achieve objectives such as net-zero emissions, energy transition, social health, and greater internationalization. This marks the 30th edition of the Position Paper since its first publication in 1994, reflecting the ECCT’s longstanding contributions to enhancing Taiwan’s business landscape.