TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) will depart for the US on Wednesday to strengthen links with two tech hubs along the West Coast technology corridor.
Chen will first visit Arizona, where he will meet with representatives from industry, government, and academia to deepen cooperation and dialogue in semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, CNA reported. The second stop will be California, where Chen will attend the Nvidia GTC 2026 conference and hold talks with Nvidia executives on expanding technological cooperation to build Kaohsiung’s own sovereign AI system.
Chen will also visit Stanford University, Arizona State University, and the University of Arizona to engage with experts and scholars on global industry trends and talent development while connecting Kaohsiung with cutting-edge technologies and leading talent pools.
Chen said Kaohsiung is moving toward digitalization and net-zero development. From TSMC’s advanced manufacturing processes to Nvidia’s AI applications, Kaohsiung plays a core role in the global semiconductor and AI supply chains, he said.
The mayor said the trip focuses on three major areas: semiconductor industry resilience, sovereign AI governance for cities, and international talent cultivation. This will integrate Kaohsiung’s industries into the global high-tech supply chain, he added.
