KAOHSIUNG (TVBS News) — The groundbreaking ceremony of Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Kaohsiung took place on Friday (June 30), marking the start of construction of the third LaLaport shopping park developed by Japanese developer Mitsui Fudosan in Taiwan.
The shopping mall, located close to the metro station and the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts, is set to be completed and open in Fongshan District in 2026. It will have a total floor area of 20,600 square meters, be six stories high with two underground floors, and welcome 270 brands from Japan and Taiwan into the building.
While the new mall can generate over 2,000 job opportunities, the building will also serve as a place for recreation and entertainment. Mitsui Fudosan Taiwan Co. Chairman, Yasuhiro Hisaichi, said they "have integrated the nature and culture around Fongshan District and the environment full of art into the exterior design."
In 2022, the sales of department stores in Kaohsiung surpassed Taichung City for the second consecutive year, securing second place in Taiwan. "Kaohsiung's consumer buying power is very high. We generated NT＄72.5 billion last year," said Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chi-mai.
Mayor Chen added that during the construction, the city government will assess the surrounding traffic and take appropriate measures to adjust traffic lights, lanes, and parking lot planning. "All roads lead to LaLaport. [...] I believe that it will drive the overall development of Fongshan," he continued.