A Journey of Commerce and Trade -Modeled after Tokyo / 經貿行銷之旅─借鏡東京
The significant strategies of striving for investment from foreign enterprises and stimulating tourism, have formed over the world. After the new disease, SARS, was controlled, everyone in Taiwan has been working hard to solicit for foreign companies and people to come and to promote tourism. Therefore, Mayor Hsieh and deputations of Kaohsiung City Government visited Tokyo, Japan on September 1st to September 6th this year.
Draw into guild dog institution
On 1st of September, a group of delegates arrived in Tokyo from Taiwan, Mayor Hsieh and so on had a meeting with the delegates of Japanese Guild Dog Association, which is the largest guild dog association for handicapped in Japan, consulted relating matters. Kaohsiung City is the first city in Taiwan to propose and promote the concept of no obstacle for guild dog. Mayor Hsieh wishes to acquire the experiences from the association to offer the better living space for disabled and handicapped citizens'
Sign up "Friendship Aspiration" for tourism purpose
On September 2nd, Mayor Hsieh, the chief of Labor Affairs Bureau, Mr. Fang and the relative stuffs visited Japanese Trade Union Confederation Labor Union, which is the one of the Labor Unions in Japan. Listened to the presentation of how the relationship works between employers and employees after the bubble economy in Japan, and according to this subject to exchange each other's ideas and opinions. The promotion for traveling in Kaohsiung City was held by Economic Affairs Bureau and Kaohsiung Tourism Association. The "Friendship Aspiration" was attested by Mayor Hsieh, and it was signed by Kaohsiung Tourism Association, Japan-Taiwan tourism Commission and STC Company to show the efforts of stimulation in tourism between Taiwan and Japan.
The concept of "New Silk Road"
Mayor Hsieh leaded Kaohsiung City Commerce and Trade Tour visiting two of Japanese economic trading groups - Japan Federation of Economic Organizations and The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mr. Okuda, the director of Federation of Economic Organizations, who is also the chairman of Toyota, is named as "business Premier". Mayor Hsieh proposed the concept of "New Silk Road", which contains the viewpoint of international division of labor, is admitted and taken into account by Japanese Finance and Economic industry. Namely, it is the point of 'Taiwan is the transfer center for international import and export from Mainland China'.
To encourage Japanese companies to come to Kaohsiung, Mayor Hsieh introduced that Kaohsiung has the best transport network in terms of navigation and marine transportation and has high competition in the world to them. Additionally, Kaohsiung export processing zone and Kaohsiung Harbor have been programmed and combined to the Free Trade Port Area to provide better environment for investors. At the same time, Kaohsiung City has promoted many favorable measures especially in accordance with Japanese companies. With all those lucrative offers, Kaohsiung City Government hopes to attract Japanese companies to come and to invest in Kaohsiung.
如何爭取多國企業投資與促進觀光業，已成為世界各國的重要經濟政策。SARS病情控制後，從政府到民間都卯足全力對外招商並積極行銷本市觀光。因此，今年9月1日至6日謝市長特別率領本府相關局處首長及民間團體負責人前往日本東京訪問。
導入導盲犬制度
九月一日台灣代表團抵達東京後，謝市長等人前往「日本導盲犬協會」─日本推動視覺障礙者導盲犬的最大協會，與相關人面會並請益有關事項。高雄市是全台率先倡議推展「導盲犬無障礙」的都市，謝市長希望透過該協會的經驗為視覺障礙市民提供無障礙的生活空間。
簽定觀光「友好會意願書」
九月二日謝市長、勞工局方來進局長等相關人員至日本勞動組合總連合會（連合）─日本三大工會之一。聽取「連合」如何因應泡沫經濟後，日本勞資雙方權益及關係變化簡報，並針對議題交換意見。當晚由建設局、高雄市觀光協會聯合舉行本市觀光行銷活動，本市觀光協會與日本台灣觀光促進委員會、STC株式會社在謝市長見證下，簽定「友好會意願書」，以實際行動說明促進兩國觀光旅遊的用心。
「新絲路」概念
九月三日謝市長率領「高雄市經貿觀光行銷團」參訪日本兩大工商經濟團體─日本經濟團體連合會（日本經團連）與日本商工會議所，由經團連會長奧田碩親自接待謝市長；奧田碩，是TOYOTA豐田汽車總裁，在日本素有「商界閣揆」的美譽。謝市長提出具有國際分工觀點的「新絲路」概念，即「台灣是各國企業進出中國大陸的運籌轉運中樞站」的觀點，深受日方財經界的贊同與重視。
為吸引日商到高雄市投資，謝市長向兩大日本經濟團體說明高雄市擁有海空聯運的絕佳條件，具有高度國際競爭力，此外高雄加工出口區及高雄港規劃為自由貿易港區，提供投資者更優勢的環境。此外，高雄市也推出多項優惠措施，對日商到高雄投資都是利多政策，因此期盼吸引日商能至高雄投資。