Taiwan Today

The Taichung Harbor Bureau invited tenders July 14 for its 82.5-hectcare special logistics zone established within the western Taiwanese port. Wang Chung-yu, director-general of the bureau, said construction on Taichung Harbor Logistics Area I is scheduled for completion by year’s end. The site, located next to the harbor’s container terminal, is expected to offer 66 hectares of land available for manufacturing and logistics centers. According to a source familiar with the zone, Foxconn Technology Group has expressed interest in bidding. Walsin Lihwa Corp. is also planning to set up a NT$5-billion stainless production facility on 15 to 20 hectares of land. The government estimates private sector investment of at least NT$10 billion (US$3 million) flowing into the area. Wang said as the three links across the strait become effective, Walsin sees Taichung Harbor’s proximity to mainland Chinese ports and its massive hinterland as strong vantage points for the development. He added that at NT$110 per square meter, the development’s rent and management fees are cheaper than those of other export processing zones. “This is why Walsin decided to set up its stainless steel plant here,” he said. “The plant will be the foundation of the company’s optimized cross-strait stainless steel business.” Since the three links commenced Dec. 15, 2008, Taichung Harbor’s total direct freight volume hit 6.92 million tons. Its major trading ports on the mainland are Fuzhou, Shanghai, Taicang and Xiamen. Bulk cargo amounted to 2.81 million tons and container cargo, 4.11 million tons. Among bulk cargo, sandstone is the No. 1 at 70 percent, with coal in second place at 14 percent. The remainder includes chemicals and billets. Wang said Taichung Harbor’s free trade area still has 116 hectares of land for lease. The bureau will do its best to attract international investors from various industries such as container distribution, customs, manufacturing, packing, and transport, he added. A source familiar with the situation said in order to promote the harbor’s long-term viability, authorities may include the logistics zone in Taichung’s free trade area. (TYH-JSM)