A delegation organized by Kaohsiung and Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on Thursday attended a semiconductor forum in Arizona, where they highlighted the importance of supply chain diversification in the fast-changing global economy.
The Kaohsiung City Government yesterday said Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) led the delegation to meet with Arizona Commerce Authority president Sandra Watson and attend a semiconductor roundtable forum.
Chen at the forum said Kaohsiung is at the core of the semiconductor S Corridor project in southern Taiwan, adding that contract chipmaker Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) has started mass production at an advanced wafer fabrication plant in the area.
Photo courtesy of Kaohsiung City Government via CNA
Amid rapidly changing political and economic conditions, the industry should consider diversifying its semiconductor network, Chen said, adding that Arizona has emerged as a strong strategic partner to bolster the global supply chain.
Watson said Taiwan and Arizona have forged a solid partnership, as her state has become the semiconductor hub of the US.
Arizona has not only provided a sound investment environment, but has also served as a semiconductor talent hub, she added.
Taiwan, the US and Japan have become indispensable partners and the three sides should work together in areas such as city governance, talent and the development of an industrial ecosystem, Watson said.
Also at the forum, Kumamoto Vice Governor Shingi Takeuchi said he appreciated Kaohsiung’s idea to form a joint delegation to the US, as the visit has demonstrated the determination of the three economies to cooperate.
It was the first time that Kaohsiung and Kumamoto have sent a joint delegation to the US and teamed up to bolster semiconductor development across the Pacific, the Kaohsiung City Government said.
TSMC has committed to investing US$165 billion in Arizona to build sophisticated wafer fabs and integrated circuit packaging facilities. It also operates a fab in Kumamoto, with a second one under construction.
After Arizona, the delegation was headed to San Jose, California, for Nvidia Corp’s annual GPU Technology Conference, which runs from Monday to Thursday next week.
Chen is expected to meet with company executives to discuss deeper technological cooperation under the Smart Kaohsiung Lighthouse Project.
He departed for the US on Wednesday and is scheduled to return to Taiwan on Thursday next week.
Meanwhile, Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) arrived in Boston on Thursday and began her US trip by visiting Taichung’s sister city Manchester, New Hampshire, where she met with Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais.
The mayors met to discuss housing, homelessness and crime prevention, the Taichung City Government said.
Ruais presented Lu with a “key to the city” to symbolize the bond between the two sister cities, which have maintained their relationship since 1989.
Manchester and Taichung are rapidly developing cities facing similar challenges, Lu said.
The discussion focused on balancing urban growth with residents’ housing rights, coordinating resources to address homelessness and exchanging ideas on city-level anti-drug policies, she said.
Ruais shared his city’s experience in combating drug addiction, including expanding police staffing and revising city ordinances to improve public safety.
Lu invited Ruais to visit Taichung to further deepen bilateral ties and promote additional exchanges.
The mayor’s 11-day US visit includes stops in New York, Washington and Seattle.
She previously said she also plans to meet with members of the US House of Representatives and engage with Taiwanese expatriate communities during her trip.
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