Taiwan launches massive Kaohsiung park to boost semiconductor jobs and global competitiveness

President Lai Ching-te broke ground on Kaohsiung's Baipu Industrial Park, a nearly 89-hectare complex designed to reinforce Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem and promote north-south economic balance. The development is projected to create over 4,000 positions and generate about NT$300 billion (US$9.35 billion) in yearly production value, supporting the rising demand for AI and high-performance computing. Built through a partnership of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Kaohsiung City Government and leading chipmakers, notably TSMC, the park will host a 3-hectare site with modular cleanrooms, laboratories and a specialist training centre.

Two campuses, including TSMC's facilities, should be ready by the fourth quarter of 2029, with the entire park completed in 2031. The project aims to become Taiwan's first dedicated base for semiconductor equipment and raw-material testing, linking with existing clusters at Renwu Industrial Park and Ciaotou Science Park and completing the southern S-corridor network. Water security will be addressed via the "pearl string project" and new purification plants, while Taiwan Power Co. will supply a dedicated electricity distribution network.