New Taipei Mayor visits Chicago to forge U.S. industry links

New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih led a delegation to Chicago, participating in the 2026 North American Automation Technology Exhibition and hosting a related dinner. The visit's primary objective was to strengthen industrial connections between Taiwan and the United States, with a specific focus on advancing smart manufacturing and assisting New Taipei enterprises in accessing the North American market.

During the trip, Hou and his team engaged in face-to-face discussions with representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), Illinois state officials, Chicago city leaders, overseas community representatives, and industry partners. Hou emphasized Chicago's historical significance as a hub for American manufacturing, logistics, and supply chains, and its role as a center for industrial innovation and transformation. He highlighted the complementary strengths of Taiwan and the U.S. in innovation, technology, and industrial cooperation, especially amidst global supply chain restructuring and the rapid development of AI and smart manufacturing.

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Chicago has long been an important city for the development of American manufacturing, logistics, and supply chains, and it is an important base for industrial innovation and industrial transformation. Facing global supply chain restructuring and the rapid development of AI and smart manufacturing, Taiwan and the United States have a good complementary foundation in innovation, technology, and industrial cooperation.

New Taipei City, as a major manufacturing and technology center in Taiwan, boasts a robust information and communication technology (ICT) industry and established clusters in electronics, telecommunications, and smart manufacturing, with over 320,000 registered businesses. The 20 companies accompanying Hou on this visit showcased their technologies and products, expressing a desire to build long-term, stable, and mutually trusting partnerships with their American counterparts. The goal is to collaboratively create more resilient and efficient supply chain cooperation models.

The New Taipei City government stated that this delegation's participation in the exhibition and subsequent industry exchanges serves not only to help local businesses seize international opportunities but also to connect with North American smart manufacturing and automation supply chain resources. The city government pledges to continue supporting its businesses in their international endeavors, thereby enhancing New Taipei's industrial visibility on the global stage. Notable attendees at the events included representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce, AIT, Illinois State Senator Willie Preston, Chicago City Council members Raymond Lopez and Scott Waguespack, FANUC Vice President Lou Finazzo, Foxconn Technology Group's U.S. Public and Government Affairs Head Robert Schlaeger, and Acme Manufacturing's Marketing and Communications Director John McGrane.

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New Taipei City is an important manufacturing and technology city in Taiwan, with a complete ICT industry foundation and industrial clusters in electronics, communications, and smart manufacturing, with over 320,000 registered companies.