Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen Visits Germany to Deepen High-Tech Exchanges, Aims to Help Companies Expand into European Market

(Central News Agency, reporter Su Muchun, Taichung, 11th) Taichung City Mayor Lu Shiow-yen led a delegation to Europe. On German time, the 10th, she visited Saxony, Germany, among other places. In addition to paying courtesy calls on three local leaders, she attended the annual dinner of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She stated that Taichung City has been assisting companies in expanding into non-US markets in recent years and hopes to deepen cooperation with European industries.

The Taichung City Government issued a press release on the 11th stating that Mayor Lu arrived in Dresden, the capital of Saxony, on German time the 10th. She paid a courtesy call on Dresden Mayor Dirk Hilbert, then attended the annual dinner of the Dresden Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Dresden), meeting with Saxony Premier Michael Kretschmer and Thuringia Premier Mario Voigt.

Dresden, known as the "Silicon Valley of Germany," produces nearly one-third of all chips in Europe. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has also invested here to establish the European Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (ESMC), which is expected to begin production in 2027. Taichung is the main base for training talent for ESMC. As semiconductor supply chain cooperation continues to deepen, exchanges between the two cities of Taichung and Dresden are also heating up.

Mayor Lu stated that Taichung and Dresden have become connected through TSMC, and the relationship between the two cities is growing increasingly close. During the meeting, Mayor Hilbert expressed interest in TSMC's operational model in Taichung and how the city addresses issues such as water resources, electricity resources, and transportation infrastructure needed for industrial development. Both sides agreed to meet again in the future to continue deepening exchanges and cooperation.

Mayor Lu attended the networking dinner of the Dresden Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Saxony, exchanging ideas with local political and business figures. In his speech at the event, Premier Kretschmer welcomed Mayor Lu's visit, praised Taiwan's achievements in high-tech development, and encouraged companies to visit Taiwan and Taichung.

Mayor Lu said that Premier Kretschmer demonstrated the high regard of German local governments for Taiwan's industrial strength. This meeting also laid a more solid foundation for future cooperation between Taichung and Saxony in semiconductors, high technology, and economic trade. In the future, the city government will continue to assist companies in expanding overseas markets, deepen connections with important European industrial clusters, and strive for more investment, technology, and business cooperation opportunities to enhance the international competitiveness of Taichung's industries.

Mayor Lu stated that in the face of rapid changes in the international economic and trade environment, Taichung City has been actively assisting companies in expanding into non-US markets in recent years. She hopes that this visit will further deepen cooperative relations with German and European industries. (Editor: Zhang Mingkun) 1150611