Hsinchu County Government Signs Bilateral Economic and Trade Agreement in Markham, Ontario

HSINCHU, Taiwan, June 19, 2016 /CNW/ -- On June 13, Hsinchu County Magistrate Chiu Ching-chun and a team of investors visited Markham, Ontario to discuss potential Canadian investment in a number of Hsinchu's latest projects.

They received a warm welcome from Director Wu Rongquan from Canada's Foreign Ministry Representative Office, Director Xu Yongmei from the Department of State Office of Toronto and Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti.

During his presentation, Magistrate Chiu talked about a series of projects known locally as the "Seven-Kilometer High-Tech Corridor", including Hsinchu Industrial Park, Tai Yuen Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Hsinchu Science Park and Hsinchu Biomedical Science Park. Together with other ventures, the Corridor will create 220,000 jobs every year.

As Markham is widely recognized as Canada's high-tech hub, the Hsinchu delegation is looking to establish a friendly relationship with the Ontario city to facilitate high-tech industry collaboration. Chiu and Mayor Scarpitti will therefore sign a bilateral economic MOU to set up the Taipei Business Council in Toronto, which will be led by Ms. Lin Meilin.

Both parties will exchange their opinions on topics such as economics, culture, trade, high-technology, and education based on fairness and mutually beneficial principles with both parties submitting plans to facilitate growth.

Magistrate Chiu also discussed the recent article from Global Views Monthly regarding "Hsinchu's Eight Governance Survey", which introduces the county's economy and employment, ranking not only the highest net immigration population, but also the lowest unemployment rate for three consecutive years.

Uni-President Enterprises Corporation invested NTD18 billion in Hukou, with a new factory recently completed and Far Eastern Group invested NTD9 billion on No. 8 parking lot BOT, which is estimated to be completed in 2019. NTD418.8 million was invested in Zhubei National Sports Center which is scheduled for completion in February 2018.

Mr. Chiu also touched on the government's plans for Taiwan Knowledge Economic Flagship Park which forms part of the broader "Trillion Economic Plan" and sees 39 manufacturers stationed in the Hsinchu Biomedical Park.

The Ministry of Health has approved 499 hospital beds in China Medical University Hospital, licensed by Welfare Health Industrial Park, and phase one is estimated to be completed in 2018. This will raise the standard of Hsinchu county's medical resources and expand science and technology, biotechnology and medical-related industry links, increasing economic efficiency and strengthening the region's overall development and competitiveness.

In order to attract investment, the county government established a service center on June 29, 2000 and more than 150 cases had since been accepted by April 2016. 68 cases were investments above NTD100 million, with a total budget of around NTD4.9 billion and an estimated 12,641 job opportunities created.

As an international innovation and research hub, Hsinchu County was inaugurated into the Intelligent Community Forum's (ICF) Smart 21 communities at the first time of asking, and Mr. Chiu went on to mention that in the reunion meeting of academicians of the Industrial Technology Research Institute held on May 4, 2016, the concept of developing a smart cityin order to combine local characteristics and demands was floated.

The Seven-Kilometer High-Tech Corridor, combining Zhubei high speed rail, National Chiao Tung University and National Tsing Hua University, will play a key role in demonstrating the area's smart city potential and the concept is also expected to be exported overseas. This is testament to Hsinchu County's efforts in digitization and integrating academic, government and medical research resources into driving forces of innovation and the local economy.

Ambassador Wu Rongquan; Director of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Toronto, Xu Yongmei; Director of Toronto Overseas Chinese Education Center, Li Shuling; President of the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin Jinyi; former president of the Taiwanese Hakka Association of America, Wang Xingfu; Director of the Taiwanese Hakka Association of Toronto, Lu Zhouxin; Mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti; Director of the China-Canada Cultural and Economics Association, Li Liyu; President of the Canada-Taiwan Commerce and Cultural Association, Li Meiling; and Markham city councilor Li Guoxian all participated in the investment-invitation press conference and showed their support and appreciation.

Tsai Yi-Ling
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SOURCE Hsinchu County Government