Taiwan's First Yacht Industry Park to Be Constructed in Kaohsiung Early Next Year

Taipei, July 14, 2011 (CENS)--Following years of intensive concerns by industry insiders, Taiwan's first yacht industry park will be constructed in the southern metropolis of Kaohsiung starting early next year, which is estimated to generate production value of NT$10 billion per year and more than 4,000 job opportunities when becoming operational in 2014, according to officials of Kaohsiung City's Marine Bureau.

Sun Jyh-perng, director general of Kaohsiung Marine Bureau, confirmed that the city government will sign a contract with a Taiwanese land development company in mid-August, marking the kickoff of the so-called Kaohsiung Southern Star Project, which includes development of the yacht industry park.

The project is aimed to reclaim a total of 220 hectares of land from the sea, with 113.1 hectares of which to site the yacht industry park, said Sun, adding that the industrial park will be developed to accommodate 28 yacht builders and 14 marine hardware manufacturers, and with large-sized shipyards, wharfs and sewage systems. At a total cost of NT$5.4 billion, the industrial park development plan will be carried out in two stages and completed in 2014.

As a total of 23 yacht builders, including Horizon Yachts, Johnson Yacht, Kha Shing Enterprise, and Tayana Yachts, and watercraft hardware producers, like Man Ship Machinery Hardware and Aritex Products, have shown interest in setting up plants in the park so far. Sun noted that the city government will kick off discussions with them over rental and tax incentives, in hopes of pushing formation of an integrated supply chain of yachts in the park to boost the global profile and capabilities of the industry.