Mayor Chen Chu Visits Japan and Attends FOODEX Japan 2012／陳菊市長赴日參加2012東京國際食品展
Mayor Chen Chu Visits Japan and Attends FOODEX Japan 2012
◎English translation: Peng Hsin-yi
◎Photos by Hsu Jhih-wei
On March 4th - 9th, Kaohsiung City Mayor Chen Chu, Yunlin County Magistrate Su Chih-fen and Chaiyi County Magistrate Chang Hua-kuan attended the 2012 International Food and Beverage Exhibition (FOODEX Japan 2012) in Tokyo, in order to promote produce from Central and Southern Taiwan. They hoped to create export opportunities and strengthen Taiwan's image as a supplier of premium fruits and vegetables. They introduced Taiwan's safe and high quality products to participants from over 72 countries. FOODEX Japan is the world's third largest food exhibition and the most extensive in Asia. Every year it attracts an average of 70,000 buyers and food professionals. This year, Taiwan's booth was sponsored by Yunlin County, Chaiyi County, Tainan City and Kaohsiung City. Mayor Chen Chu hopes to initiate a new trade agreement with the Japanese and increase the export of Kaohsiung's best fruits, such as jujubes and dragon fruit. Mayor Chen's mission included extending existing channels and increasing orders.
Mayor Chen's trip to Japan also coincided with the first anniversary of the 311 earthquake, distributing 50 cases of Cishan and Meinong Districts' bananas, as gifts to Sendai Elementary School students. She passed on love, sympathy and encouragement from the people of Kaohsiung.
While in Japan, Mayor Chen toured several cities and met with the mayors. In Hachioji City, Mayor Chen met with recently elected, Mayor Ishimori Takayuki and invited him to attend the 2013 Asian-Pacific City Summit in Kaohsiung. Mayor Chen and Mayor Ishimori toured the produce sales center at Takiyama Station. She was particularly impressed with Takiyama's supply system and liked the fact each item has a traceable agriculture product label, guaranteeing quality. Takiyama Station also serves as a public shelter during emergencies. The multi-functional design will serve as a model for future upgrades, planned for Kaohsiung's Produce Center.
Mayor Chen also visited Hachioji, Osaka and Saitama and hopes the experience will contribute to greater economic development for Kaohsiung. Mayor Chen met with Governor of Osaka, Hasimoto Toru. Governor Hasimoto is an advocate of an Osaka Prefecture and City merger. He and Mayor Chen discussed the Kaohsiung County and City merger. She explained after the merger, Kaohsiung expanded to encompass 2946 square kilometers and a population of 2.77 million. This has enriched Kaohsiung's diversity, economy and provides remote districts with direct attention from the city government. She explained, Kaohsiung City Government endeavors to facilitate each district to achieve a similar level of infrastructure and development.
Mayor Chen also visited the underground reservoir, Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel in Saitama Prefecture. The system is designed to absorb excessive water when large storms hit. It utilizes open spaces such as schools and parks, providing more open spaces for recreation while relieving pressure for underground reservoirs during rainy seasons. Mayor Chen believes Kaohsiung could benefit greatly from the models she saw during the tour.
陳菊市長赴日參加2012東京國際食品展
◎文／葉娜慧
◎攝影／徐志偉
高雄市長陳菊與雲林縣長蘇治芬、嘉義縣長張花冠於今年3月4日至9日率團赴日參加「2012東京國際食品展」，共同行銷中南部農特產，塑造「台灣優質(安全)蔬果供應區」的形象；陳市長並準備香蕉送給311地震災區仙台國小表達關懷之意，也參訪八王子市、大阪、琦玉縣等地，作為高雄市未來相關市政建設的參考。
東京國際食品展為亞洲最具規模且是全球三大專業食品展之一，每年吸引逾7萬名買主入場參觀，今年台灣四縣市雲林、嘉義、台南、高雄共同設攤，陳市長表示，此行要向參與東京食品展的72個國家介紹優質、安全的農產品，同時向日方爭取高雄市的特色農產輸出，諸如蜜棗、紅龍果等，高雄市目前已有部分農特產成功打入日本市場，此行能為高雄果農成功爭取更多外銷訂單。
訪日期間，陳市長前往拜會八王子市新任市長石森孝志，邀請石森市長參加明年在高雄舉辦的亞太城市會議，並參觀滝山驛站農產品展售中心，陳市長表示，滝山驛站擁有良善的農產品供應制度，每項農產品都有生產履歷標章，確保產品品質，驛站又兼具災時緊急避難功能，可作為高雄物產館的參考。
此外，基於大阪市長橋下徹積極推動大阪府、市合一，陳市長於拜會大阪市橋下市長時分享高雄縣市合併的經驗，她表示，合併後大高雄腹地面積達到2946平方公里，市民人數277萬人，不僅擁有多元族群，產業經濟亦趨向多元發展，目前市府致力讓每區的基礎建設公平發展。
陳市長亦走訪日本琦玉縣，參觀「首都圈外郭放水路（地下水庫）」設施，她表示，此項防洪排水設施，於暴雨來臨時，讓周遭的公園及學校操場都可充當儲水功能，分擔地下水庫的蓄水量，平時又可恢復成為民眾休憩的場所，高雄市將借此經驗，有效發展閒置空間，減緩市區淹水量。
由於此次出訪正值日本311地震將屆滿一週年，陳市長也準備50箱高雄旗山、美濃等地盛產的香蕉，捐贈給日本仙台國小，以具體行動傳達高雄市對日本的關懷，陳市長也盼望台日雙方能互通尚未輸入的優質蔬果，創造雙贏共生的經濟體。