Behind Every Brand, a Story: Chiayi City Documents Its Local Industries and the People Who Built Them
Post Date: August 24
Department of Construction / Tourism and Information Department
The Chiayi County and City Honorary Advisors Association held a presentation on August 24 for Industries of Chi-Lo, highlighting the stories and craftsmanship behind Chiayi's local industries. The event also marked the release of the Industries of Chi-Lo artisan handbook, which documents the development of local businesses and the dedication of their craftspeople through photographs and written accounts.
Chiayi City Mayor Huang Min-hui attended the event and praised the association for its long-standing support for local businesses. She said Chiayi's diverse industries have continued to work together and support one another, gradually forming what she called "Team Chiayi" — a united force helping local industries and the city gain greater visibility in Taiwan and around the world.
Mayor Huang said Chiayi embodies the KANO spirit of "never giving up." Many local craftspeople have spent decades pursuing their professions with dedication and care, allowing their brands to gradually gain recognition. The Industries of Chi-Lo project is therefore particularly meaningful, she said, as it documents stories ranging from traditional industries that have served the city for generations to restaurants, cafés, bakeries, cultural and creative businesses, and distinctive shops established by young people returning home or starting businesses in Chiayi. These stories provide an important way for future generations to understand both Chiayi's industries and the city itself.
Chiayi's economy has continued to grow in recent years. Business sales reached NT$307.1 billion in 2025, marking a seventh consecutive year of record growth, while sales through May this year were up 5% from the same period last year. The city government continues to support businesses through initiatives including youth entrepreneurship programs, SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grants, the "Good Shops in Chiayi" program, digital upgrades, brand marketing, and international market development. Mayor Huang said the city aims not only to provide resources, but also to serve as a long-term partner in helping local businesses strengthen their competitiveness, bring quality products to wider audiences, and take their brands further.
Yihsing Brewing, a local business with more than 70 years of history, said that with support from the central and Chiayi City governments, it has evolved from a traditional small workshop into an upgraded brand while adopting local revitalization initiatives and AI technology to improve efficiency. The company noted that Chiayi has no shortage of quality businesses, but needs more opportunities for them to be seen, and expressed appreciation for the government's continued support for micro-enterprises.
The Chiayi County and City Honorary Advisors Association has long supported small and medium-sized enterprises, serving as a bridge between businesses and government while helping identify the needs of local industries. Lee Kuan-chih, Director General of the Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, also attended the event and said the government will continue supporting Chiayi's distinctive local industries, helping small and micro businesses pursue digital and net-zero transformation and expand into domestic and international markets.
The Industries of Chi-Lo project places Chiayi's small and medium-sized businesses at its center, using photography and written stories to preserve the development and craftsmanship behind different industries — creating a lasting record of Chiayi's industrial heritage and the people who built it.