Councilor Concerned About Costco Taichung Site Evaluation; City Government: Steadily Advancing

TAICHUNG (CNA) – Costco's expansion plans in Taichung City have drawn attention, with independent Taichung City Councilor Chen Ting-hsiu today inquiring about the evaluation of Costco's new sites. The city government stated that the overall plan is steadily advancing, and further details will be announced after Costco's US headquarters confirms the investment plan.

Costco currently has two branches in Taichung City. Chen Ting-hsiu, during a financial and economic business inquiry at the Taichung City Council, expressed concern about Costco's site evaluation in Taichung. He pointed out that the city government had previously announced that Costco's Greater China Director personally visited Mayor Lu Shiow-yen and expressed optimism about Taichung's development potential, intending to open a third store in Taichung, and even up to six branches, but he was unaware of the current progress of the site evaluation.

Chen Ting-hsiu stated that the city government had previously announced that Costco was evaluating the "Taichung Precision Machinery old factory" site in Xitun District for its third store. However, it is understood that this case was recently submitted to the Ministry of Interior's Urban Planning Committee but was rejected and returned, raising questions about whether the site evaluation is stalled. Regarding Costco's proposal for a coastal site in Taichung, the Port Company promised that the land use period could be extended from the original 20 years to 40 years, which Costco agreed to.

Taichung City Economic Development Bureau Director Chang Feng-yuan responded that the Ministry of Interior's review panel rejected the "Taichung Precision Machinery old factory" site because its application was for a research and development center. The plan needs to strengthen its arguments in this regard.

Regarding Costco's Taichung coastal store plan, the city's Economic Development Bureau explained that Costco is maintaining contact with the Taichung Port Branch Office and continues to evaluate and discuss relevant investment locations. The overall plan is steadily advancing, and further details will be officially announced after Costco's US headquarters confirms the investment plan. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 2026-04-15