Chiayi City GovernmentChiayi City Government

Chiayi City Marks 44th Anniversary of Provincial City Status with Expanded Student Meal and Senior Health Insurance Subsidy Programs Post Date: July 1 Civil Affairs Department / Tourism and Information Department Mayor Huang Min-hui led a commemorative event at City Hall on July 1, joined by Senior Advisor to the President Chang Po-ya, city councilors, borough chiefs, school principals, and community representatives. Mayor Huang announced two major social welfare initiatives and opened the "Home City × Chiayi" Smart City Exhibition, running July 1–5 at City Hall.   NEW WELFARE MEASURES The expanded school lunch program will extend free nutritious lunches to students at private junior high schools, ensuring all elementary and junior high students — public and private — are covered. A trial program will provide National Health Insurance premium subsidies for residents aged 80 and above. Eligibility for the maternity transportation subsidy will be extended from 3 to 6 months postpartum.   SMART CITY EXHIBITION The exhibition brings together 21 municipal departments to showcase digital innovation in urban governance. Visitors who complete the stamp challenge across the four themed zones can redeem commemorative gifts at the service counter. Featuring 16 themed displays, 30 showcased projects, 11 new initiatives, and participation from 21 municipal departments, the exhibition highlights the city's ongoing commitment to advancing smart governance through cross-departmental collaboration.   CONTEXT & FUTURE PLANS Reflecting on Chiayi's history since regaining provincial city status on July 1, 1982, Mayor Huang highlighted the city's legacy as the "City of Wood," shaped by the convergence of Taiwan's north-south railway, the Alishan Forest Railway, and the sugar railway. Looking ahead, the city will advocate for a rail link to the Taiwan High Speed Rail system — via elevated light rail or an elevated Taiwan Railways branch line — to strengthen connectivity across Chiayi City, Chiayi County, and the broader Yunlin–Chiayi–Tainan region.  

Chiayi City Looks to Germany’s Circular Economy Model to Advance Sustainable Resource Regeneration Post Date: June 27 Environmental Protection Bureau / Tourism and Information Department To accelerate its net-zero transition and advance the circular economy, Chiayi City Mayor Huang Min-hui led a municipal delegation to Germany on June 26 to visit the Lippewerk Circular Economy Park operated by REMONDIS, one of the world's leading waste management and resource recovery companies. Accompanied by REMONDIS Group Chairman Silvio Loederbusch, the delegation explored the park’s integrated resource recovery system, including material sorting, recycling technologies, energy utilization, and the production of recycled materials, as Chiayi City continues planning its Green Energy Sustainable Circular Park. Mayor Huang said the visit demonstrated how modern waste management can evolve into a comprehensive resource regeneration system. Rather than focusing solely on waste disposal, the Lippewerk park processes a wide range of waste streams—including waste oils, organic waste, electronic waste, plastics, and chemical waste—and converts them into valuable products such as biodiesel, certified compost, recovered metals, recycled plastic pellets, and industrial raw materials. The approach closely aligns with Chiayi City's vision of promoting bottom ash recycling, advanced resource sorting, and food waste reutilization to maximize resource efficiency while reducing waste generation. Mayor Huang noted that Lippewerk has successfully established a complete circular industrial ecosystem that transforms waste into reusable resources and renewable energy. Its experience offers an important reference for Chiayi City as it continues to strengthen environmental governance, promote resource circulation, and integrate circular economy principles into long-term urban development. According to REMONDIS Group Chairman Silvio Loederbusch, the approximately 230-hectare Lippewerk site was formerly an aluminum smelter before being transformed into one of Europe's leading circular economy hubs. Its waste-to-energy facility, once powered by coal, now generates sufficient electricity to meet the entire industrial park's energy demand while supplying surplus renewable electricity to the public grid. By converting incoming waste into steam and electricity, the park demonstrates how waste can become a stable and sustainable source of energy. Environmental Protection Bureau Director Sun Yi-tun said Chiayi City will draw on Lippewerk's planning concepts and smart management model in developing its Green Energy Sustainable Circular Park. Guided by the three goals of self-sufficient waste treatment, resource circulation, and energy utilization, the project aims to become a next-generation circular economy hub that supports sustainable urban development while aligning with international environmental trends.  

Chiayi City Showcases 15 Signature Food Brands at FOOD TAIPEI, Building on Last Year's Threefold Growth in Business Matchmaking Post Date: June 24 Economic Affairs Department  / Tourism and Information Department The 2026 FOOD TAIPEI, one of Asia's premier food industry exhibitions, officially opened on June 24 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2. Representing Mayor Huang Min-hui, Deputy Mayor Lin Ruey-yen led a delegation of 15 carefully selected local businesses under the Chiayi City Pavilion, themed "Distinctive Flavors, Sustainable Innovation." Building on last year's strong performance — which saw business meetings increase by approximately 10 percent and business matchmaking value nearly triple — the city aims to further expand market opportunities and distribution channels through this year's exhibition. Deputy Mayor Lin said food has long been at the heart of Chiayi City's identity. To strengthen the city's food industry, the Chiayi City Government has continued to develop the "Chiayi Nice Shop" brand, helping local businesses enhance product quality while transitioning toward long-term brand development. Through professional branding support, the initiative has enabled Chiayi City's specialty foods and signature gifts to reach broader domestic and international markets. Since 2020, the city government has organized local businesses to participate in FOOD TAIPEI under the Chiayi Nice Shop brand, with this year marking its seventh consecutive appearance. From more than 200 outstanding local businesses, 15 exhibitors were selected through a rigorous evaluation process. Lin noted that Chiayi City's exhibition strategy emphasizes teamwork. Rather than promoting individual companies separately, the city government creates a unified platform where participating businesses can showcase their products directly to buyers, distributors, retailers, and procurement representatives, increasing both commercial opportunities and brand visibility. Last year's exhibition delivered particularly strong results, with the number of business meetings increasing by around 10 percent and total business matchmaking value rising nearly threefold compared with previous years. Encouraged by this success, the city has continued expanding overseas marketing efforts by participating in international trade events, including FOODEX Japan, the Singapore Food Expo, and tourism promotion events in Busan, South Korea. Lin expressed confidence that the Chiayi City Pavilion will once again attract buyers and industry professionals this year, showcasing local products that combine trusted quality, refined craftsmanship, contemporary aesthetics, and sustainable values while opening new opportunities in both domestic and overseas markets. According to Lo Tzu-cheng, Director of the Economic Affairs Department, the Chiayi Nice Shop brand has received trademark certification from the Ministry of Economic Affairs, representing not only a collection of outstanding local businesses but also a recognized mark of quality and brand assurance. The first three days of FOOD TAIPEI are reserved for professional buyers, while the exhibition opens to the general public on June 27. To strengthen consumer engagement, the city government will launch a dedicated business-to-consumer promotion on the public day, inviting popular influencer 郭鬼鬼 Angela (Kuo Kuei-kuei) to serve as ambassador for the Chiayi City Pavilion. Through lifestyle-oriented content and social media engagement, the campaign aims to further increase brand awareness among younger consumers. This year's pavilion features a diverse lineup of Chiayi City's best-known food brands, highlighting the city's rich culinary heritage and innovative food industry. Among the featured exhibitors are A-Pan Steamed Buns, known for preserving traditional craftsmanship; Lin Tsung-Yi Fish Head Casserole, whose signature pickled mustard fish hotpot is made with its proprietary fish bone broth and was featured on Netflix's Street Food series; Tang Cheng Goose, which recreates the distinctive flavor of Chiayi's famous chicken rice using a carefully balanced blend of pure goose oil and fried shallots; and Yi Chia Jen, renowned for its clay pot charcoal-simmered black garlic chicken soup. Other exhibitors include Jin Long Soy Sauce, a favorite among local food vendors for its rich, traditionally brewed black soybean soy sauce; the award-winning Saint Paul Q Cake; Good Day Seeds, featuring premium cold-pressed camellia oil; A-Guei Chicken Essence, recipient of a Monde Selection Gold Award; Hsu Chia Ming Pastry Shop, known for its chilled mung bean cakes; Sweet Potato Artisan, offering sweet potato crisps and rice snacks made from locally sourced ingredients; Four Seasons Honey, producing distinctive Taiwanese forest honey; Li Xiang Coffee, showcasing premium high-mountain Alishan coffee; and SUNHOYA Winery, presenting its signature plum wine. Several long-established Chiayi brands are also participating, including Yi Hsing Chiayi Brewing (義興嘉釀), which continues to produce traditionally fermented black soybean soy sauce through a secondary fermentation process, and San Kuang Rice, whose "Happy Chiayi Rice" (幸福嘉義米), made from the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute No. 82 variety, has successfully entered the highly competitive Japanese market. These businesses have preserved traditional craftsmanship while continuously innovating in product quality and packaging, demonstrating their readiness to compete internationally. The Economic Affairs Department added that this year's Chiayi City Pavilion features a creative exhibition design inspired by "Chiayi Railway Station × Street Market." The concept recreates the atmosphere of strolling through Chiayi City's neighborhoods, allowing buyers and visitors to experience the city's food culture in an immersive setting. The pavilion also incorporates "Taoxi" (桃喜), the official mascot of the Chiayi City 320+1 Expo, as its central visual element. Carefully designed visitor routes connect each participating brand, creating an engaging exhibition experience that highlights the unique character, culinary traditions, and creative spirit of Chiayi City.