NEW TAIPEI (TVBS News) — New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih (侯友宜) announced Friday (March 7) that the city government has engaged with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC, 台積電) to offer suitable investment sites. This move comes as TSMC Chairman and CEO C.C. Wei (魏哲家) revealed plans the previous day to establish 11 new production lines in Taiwan this year, seeking President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) assistance in locating appropriate sites.
Hou emphasized New Taipei City's advantageous AI industry environment, noting that more than half of the key manufacturers reside in the city. He stated that TSMC's entry could create an AI cluster. However, Hou stressed that the nation must guarantee a stable power supply to attract investment and that local governments need to provide adequate land, fostering close cooperation with TSMC and other companies.
In response to the Ministry of Finance's (財政部) fiscal redistribution consultation meeting held Thursday, Hou argued that without amendments to the fiscal law, local development would depend on the central government. He urged the Executive Yuan to propose a version of the law. Hou suggested that if a short-term solution is unattainable, the focus should be on immediate resource allocation to localities.
The developments underscore the importance of swift governmental action to support local infrastructure and investment, with potential implications for Taiwan's economic landscape.