When he served as deputy mayor of Kaohsiung City, incoming chairman of the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp (THSRC) Shih Che (史哲) supervised the Transportation Bureau, and helped plan the Kaohsiung light rail and subway lines, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shi-kai (陳世凱) said yesterday.
Chen’s comment came after sources questioned Shih’s experience in transportation services.
At a news conference yesterday, Chen said that Shih is to be the new chairman of THSRC, while acting THSRC chairman James Jeng (鄭光遠) would become the new chairman of Taiwan Railway Corp.
Photo: CNA
In addition, former director of the Songshan Creative and Cultural Park Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) is to be the new Tourism Administration director-general, Chen Shi-kai said.
These new positions would take effect at the end of this month, he said.
Shih graduated from Tunghai University and has held public office for more than 25 years, with experience in local and central governments across various sectors, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said.
Shih previously worked for the Taichung County and Kaohsiung City governments, and Council of Labor Affairs, and served as minister of culture and minister without portfolio, the ministry said.
Chen Shi-kai said that while the public has confidence in the high-speed rail’s capacity, efficiency, safety and punctuality, there is room for improvement in passenger experience, transportation culture and marketing.
Shih was a trailblazer in marketing during his time working for the Kaohsiung City Government, and the current boom in the city’s concert economy began during Shih’s tenure, the minister said.
“With 25 years of experience in government, [Shih] can help take the high-speed rail to the next level,” he said.
In addition, Shih could help THSRC communicate with the government regarding the north-south extension of the high-speed line, which would pass through Kaohsiung, the minister said.
Deputy Minister of Transportation and Communications Wu Sheng-yuan (伍勝園) said that the Executive Yuan has approved Shih to serve as THSRC chairman.
In addition to serving as director of the Songshan Creative and Cultural Park, Chen Yu-hsiu previously worked as a consultant and spokesperson for the Lihpao theme park, helping turn it into a resort by combining it with an outlet mall and Fullon Hotel, Chen Shi-kai said.
Chen Yu-hsiu also worked as a manager for the Taipei Computer Association, helping to organize Computex Taipei, one of the world’s biggest technology exhibitions.
During her tenure as director of the Songshan Creative and Cultural Park, Chen Yu-hsiu and her team transformed the park into a top travel destination, turning losses into profits and attracting about 10 million tourists last year, Chen Shi-kai said.
She also expanded international marketing, promoting Taiwanese cultural products abroad and significantly boosting the global visibility of Taiwan’s cultural tourism, the minister said.
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