In conversation with Dr. Tih-Ju Chu Deputy Mayor, New Taipei City Government during the Taiwan Expo India 2024
Is this the first time New Taipei City is participating at the Taiwan Expo India?
Yes. This is our first time at the Taiwan Expo in India and we are excited to meet potential businesses here. Our pavilion has 20 companies from various sectors such as ICT, electronics, mechanical manufacturing, and healthcare showcasing their product and services. We hope to strengthen our ties with the Indian companies so that we can mutually benefit through industrial cooperation. We are looking at Indian in a big way to drive our next phase of industrial growth.
Tell us more about New Taipei city?
New Taipei City is one of the largest cities in Taiwan and is also transforming itself into a model smart city where they are cohesively being able to support industrial growth and a healthy, sustainable and quality standard of life.
How has the New Taipei City Government managed to attract so many companies to set up in the region?
New Taipei City has managed to attract many international businesses due to its infrastructural development and efficient connectivity, which is paramount for industrial growth. In addition, the New Taipei City government works closely with the central government and other key authorities to ensure seamless entry and setup of businesses for potential and legitimate players. They also have a very favourable policy framework through which they can fast track the approvals for three key critical requirements – land allocation, water supply and electricity. New Taipei City has multiple industrial clusters, both for small and large businesses, which houses over 3 lakh companies. They are building world class infrastructure and providing added benefits for companies, in order to promote and encourage more global players to consider New Taipei City as a desired destination for business.
How have you also looked at enhancing the citizen lives?
Alongside the industrial development, New Taipei City is also looking at enhancing the quality of life of its patrons. The objective of overall development and city governance is to enhance the lifestyle of the people. Security is a very important aspect of the city governance and the infrastructure development also is focused on bettering the everyday life of the people. The Deputy Mayor has been instrumental in encouraging green initiatives and sustainable practices as part of the city growth plan. They are encouraging environmentally friendly initiatives and have an efficient disaster management cell to provide a secure and safe ambience in the city.
New Taipei City is also encouraging companies towards sustainable practices by providing incentives and discounts for clean energy players.
They are helping companies reduce emission, promote zero carbon and trying to implement zero emission in transportation. They are looking at recycling in a big way as a sustainable practice and also promoting solar power and improving public transport in order to reduce use of personal vehicles.
What more is there for India to explore in New Taipei City?
We have a very renowned technical university and would like to invite students and technical workers from India to come and upskill themselves with the latest technical knowledge and know how so that they are better equipped and industry ready to deliver in this fast-paced changing technology era.
How do you define an ideal smart city?
New Taipei City is a model city for building smart cities of the future and the key to holistic development is when industries, residential, educational, healthcare and civic amenities all develop and cohesively grow.
