On April 9, Taichung City Mayor Lu Shiow-Yen met with Director Matthieu Baudouin A. Branders of the Belgian Office in Taipei, Chief Representative Kazuyuki Katayama of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, and Representative Yip Wei Kiat of the Singapore Trade Office in Taipei, to express appreciation for their support of the 2024 Taichung Shopping Festival and to exchange views on global trade challenges stemming from rising U.S. tariffs. Mayor Lu also called for deeper economic ties with Belgium, Japan, and Singapore through joint exhibitions and enhanced business incentives.

Mayor Lu sincerely thanked the three representatives for appearing in the international promotional videos of the 2024 Taichung Shopping Festival. Each video garnered over 250,000 views online, significantly boosting the festival’s global visibility. The campaign yielded remarkable results, with total registered spending reaching NT$35.3 billion. The “Taichung Pass (TCPASS)” app recorded more than 2.8 million downloads and over 1.65 million registered members. Moreover, the festival drew 2,784 foreign visitors from over 40 countries, generating NT$43 million in recorded spending. News and information was even shared across 47 countries and regions, including Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, and reached over 500 hotels throughout Asia. Mayor Lu emphasized that these efforts not only showcased the culinary and cultural highlights of Belgium, Japan, and Singapore, but also reinforced Taichung’s image as a dynamic international city.

Mayor Lu highlighted Taichung’s close relationships with Belgium, Japan, and Singapore, which are key trade partners of Taiwan. As countries worldwide grapple with the impact of increased U.S. tariffs, many are exploring strategies for mitigation. Mayor Lu used the opportunity to seek insights from the three representatives on how to best navigate these challenges. Underscoring the notion that "crisis brings opportunity," she urged for enhanced economic cooperation with Belgium, Japan, and Singapore to diversify Taiwan’s international trade partnership, while maintaining focus on the U.S. market.

Mayor Lu also announced that the city government has formed an “Emergency Response Team” and launched six major strategies, including tax relief measures, in response to current trade uncertainties. These strategies aim to diversify export markets and reduce reliance on U.S. demand. The city will subsidize Taichung-based businesses for participation in international trade shows, encouraging them to explore new markets. Mayor Lu expressed her hope for closer collaboration with foreign representative offices in Taiwan, facilitating mutual participation in exhibitions and creating new business opportunities.

According to the Taichung City Government Economic Development Bureau, all three representatives expressed optimism about expanding cooperation, building on existing trade foundations. Taichung is widely regarded as a hub for industry and investment, with many enterprises from Belgium, Japan, and Singapore already operating in the city. Similarly, many Taiwanese businesses have established successful ventures in these countries. The representatives expressed enthusiasm for further collaboration to strengthen economic and trade ties.

The Economic Development Bureau highlighted several notable examples of foreign investment in Taichung. Japanese companies, such as Mitsui Fudosan and MGC Pure Chemicals, have established a strong presence in the city. Belgian companies are actively players in industries like offshore wind energy, bicycle components, and medical devices. Singaporean businesses are involved in areas such as software services, chemical manufacturing, and semiconductor equipment maintenance.

One recent milestone is Singapore’s ST Engineering Urban Solutions securing the turnkey contract for the Taichung MRT Blue Line BM01 project, which includes the E&M system, depot construction, and main substation.

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Mayors Huang Guo-Rong and Cheng Chao-Hsin, Deputy Secretary-General Lin Yu-Hong, and Economic Development Bureau Director Chang Feng-Yuan. The discussions were both dynamic and constructive, highlighting the shared commitment to strengthening cooperation.