Work starts on Hefa Industrial Park development

2015/09/07

Construction on Hefa Industrial Park commenced Sept. 3 in Kaohsiung, paving the way for the southern Taiwan port city’s development into a key global manufacturing hub.

Situated in Daliao District, the 136.13-hectare facility is projected to generate NT$40 billion (US$1.23 billion) in annual output when up and running in 2018. Its main industrial sectors will be electrical and optical products, electronic components and devices, machinery equipment, metal products and transportation tools.

Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu said Hefa is the first of its kind to be established under the Statute for Industrial Innovation. “It is also the first park approved by the Financial Supervisory Commission for funding from the insurance sector.”

According to Chen, investment in the initiative is estimated at over NT$22 billion. “Given its prime location in the heart of the city, next to Kaohsiung International Airport and Taiwan’s largest commercial port, the park is already heavily oversubscribed since applications began in May,” she said.

Data from Kaohsiung City Government’s Economic Development Bureau reveals that 171 enterprises have signed up for land allotment at Hefa. These include suppliers for U.S.-based Apple Inc. and strategic partners for international automotive companies like Audi AG, Daimler AG, Porsche AG, Tesla Motors and Toyota Motor Corp.

Results of the allotment are scheduled for announcement in October, with winners greenlighted to commence construction at the state-of-the-art green facility by year-end.

EDB Director-General Tseng Wen-sheng said major automation equipment and component suppliers for luxury yachts—a key sector targeted by the maritime metropolis for future development—are also lined up for the park.

“Overall, Hefa is expected to accommodate up to 80 firms and create 10,000 jobs when completed,” he said, adding that plans are also in place to integrate the park with neighboring Dafa and Wanda bases.

“Going forward, the government will continue searching for optimal locations for further development in light of such robust demand for dedicated industrial land.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=234615&ctNode=413)