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Defense-oriented development planned for Taichung
LONG IN PLANNING:
The development was supposed to tie-in with the science-based industrial park in the county, but had to wait because of inadequate space
By Brian Hsu
STAFF REPORTER IN TAICHUNG
Monday, Jun 02, 2003, Page 2
As a science-based industrial park is to be set up in Taichung, the idea of establishing a defense-oriented industrial park in the region has become more urgent for local people working in related businesses.
The defense-oriented industrial park was initially expected to be part of the science-based industrial park, the third of its kind in the country, but the plan failed to materialize after many more companies than expected applied for a place in the park.
The planned location of the defense industry park has thus been changed from Taichung City to somewhere north of the city, which roughly falls into the category of the greater Taichung area.
A local defense-industry association, which has over 30 defense-related companies as its members, has been pushing for the project for several years.
Orion Chang (±i¶³ÄP), chairman of the Taichung-based Chinese Association of Defense Industry Development, mapped out his vision for the defense industry park in an interview with the Taipei Times. Chang, a retired defense official, is the key man behind the promotion of the defense industry park.
The association he has headed since last year was initially affiliated with the state-run Aerospace Industry Development Corporation (AIDC) but has gradually cut off the relation to become independent and self-reliant.
"The idea of establishing a defense industry park in central parts of the country comes from the recognition of central Taiwan as the most developed area in the country as far as precision machinery and other industries related to defense are concerned," Chang said.
"Our idea is to combine all the defense resources in the region to form a link with those available in northern Taiwan, establishing a `defense line' along the western corridor of the country," he said.
"The central government has agreed to buy a 100-hectare piece of land north of Taichung as the site for the defense industry park. They have been convinced by us of the necessity of the effort," Chang said.
"The park is scheduled to house 60 to 70 defense-related companies. Paperwork for the project has already begun. If everything goes as planned, the park can start accepting applications from interested companies next year, he said"
Having a contract with the central government on the project, Chang said he could not go into details about the park because certain clauses in the contract are confidential.
The exact location of the park could not be made public yet. Early disclosure of the site might have negative effects on the project, Chang said.
An with the AIDC, who is well aware of the defense industry park project, expressed some doubts about the plan when he was asked for his comments.
"Whether the plan will succeed will depend on the attitude of the Ministry of National Defense (MND). The central government department that is dealing with the project has yet to ask for cooperation from the MND," the official said.
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