Mayor of Taoyuan City, Mr. Cheng Wen-tsan was invited to the 2019 CCIFT Gala dinner. He was the only Taiwanese guest of honour to give an address in this occasion. Before the Gala dinner, Mayor Cheng met with the Delegation of French Parliamentarians and extended his appreciation for their support to Taiwan. Mayor Cheng noted that investment by French businesses in Taiwan has brought many benefits in the development of city governance, green energy, and railway infrastructure. Director of Le Bureau Français de Taipei, Mr. Benoît Guidée, is also a close friend of Taoyuan City and the most fervent supporter of Taoyuan Lamigo Baseball Team. As we are anticipating Director Guidée’s coming departure from his current position for a promotion, Mayor Cheng took the chance to reiterate his gratefulness for Director Guidée’s effort in bridging the friendship between Taoyuan City and France, and the CCIFT’s continued commitment in Taiwan and Taoyuan.
"France has made the world a better place. It brings to humanity democracy, culture, and civilized values. It invents technologies that makes life more convenient. It is home to many tantalizing food and dishes that please our taste buds and induce a blissful sense of happiness,” said the Mayor.
Mayor Cheng pointed out that France is neither far nor unfamiliar to the Taiwanese people, and the French must have also found Taoyuan a very familiar place. In the vicinity of Taoyuan International Airport is Novotel Hotel from France. Taiwanese housewives' go-to grocery destination is Carrefour, whose food court is also frequented by young patrons. Kids looking for sports and mountain-climbing equipment go to Decathlon. China Airlines and Eva Airlines own aircrafts by Airbus that have flown many Taiwanese to different corners of the world.
Many renowned French Businesses have invested and established offices in Taoyuan, including Airbus Group, Decathlon, Carrefour, and Systra. Footings of logistics service providers, wine importers, and food business operators from France can also be found in Taoyuan.
Mayor Cheng remarked that on top of the current 11 stores in Taoyuan, Carrefour has expanded their investment and is ready to build a logistics center of more than 198,000 m2 in Yangmei District.
Mr. Yen Tzu-chieh, the Director-general of Taoyuan City Secretariat, highlighted that during the past four years, Taoyuan and Le Bureau Français de Taipei have organized more than 50 exchange activities. Taoyuan and Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, also known as the "European Silicon Valley”, entered into a Sister City Agreement on 29 March last year. As a result of this partnership, Grenoble École de Management sent a delegation of graduate students to visit Quanta Computer and Asian Silicon Valley Development Agency (ASVDA) to gain an understanding of international companies operating in Taoyuan and the national programs that Taoyuan is central to. This visit once again shortens the distance between Taoyuan and France.
Director-general Yen also recalled many other exchange activities. For instance, Taoyuan has been selected as the location for one of the editions of Goûe de France Banquet, which is an important annual event of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Organic tea producer in Lala Mountain of Taoyuan, “Tea Talent,” obtained EU organic certification and made way into stores in Paris. French architects have provided experiences in social housing for Taoyuan City’s reference. And recently there have also been discussions in high school student exchange programs, Chinese and French teacher exchange programs, and cooperation in sports and smart city development. The relationship between Taoyuan and France will only be stronger and firmer.
Present in the Gala dinner from the Taoyuan side were the Mayor of Taoyuan City Mr. Cheng Wen-tsan; Director-general Yen Tzu-chieh of the Secretariat of Taoyuan City Government; Director-general Eason Kuo of the Department of Economic Development of Taoyuan City Government, and CAO of ASVDA Mr. Paul Lee. On the French side were Director Benoît Guidée of Le Bureau Français de Taipei; Mr. Eric Bothorel, Vice President of groupe d’amitié FR-TW; Ms. Laure de La Raudièren, Vice President of groupe d’amitié FR-TW; Mr. Christophe Di Pompeo, Member of la commission des affaires étrangères; Mr. Thomas Gassilloud, Member of la commission de defense; Mr. Guillaume Kasbarian, Member of la Commission des affaires économiques; Mr. Mounir Belhamiti, Member of la commission de defense; Mr. Alain Berder, Head of Economic Department of Le Bureau Français de Taipei; Mr. François Cotier, Head of Bureau Business France à Taïwan; Mr. Tudor Pascu, Chairman of the CCIFT; Mr. Stephane Peden, CEO of the CCIFT, and more than four hundred guests representing French businesses in Taiwan.