* Please note the change of the event time*

ECCT Premium Event Hosted in Association with the Taipei City Government

Lunch with Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je

Guest speaker
Dr Ko Wen-je, Mayor, Taipei City Government 台北市長柯文哲

11:30 – 13:30, Monday, 25 March 2019 (Reception starts at 11:30, the lunch will be served at 12:00)
3F, Ballroom A, The Regent Taipei / 台北晶華酒店3樓宴會廳A
41 Zhongshan North Rd., Sec. 2, Taipei / 台北市中山北路二段41號

Fresh from his re-election victory to a second term in office in November 2018, the ECCT will hold its annual meeting Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je. 2019 will mark the 21st year since the ECCT held its first annual round table lunch with the Taipei City Government (TCG). As in previous years, this year's event will provide an exclusive opportunity for ECCT members to discuss issues of concern or mutual interest with the mayor and a full delegation of senior TCG cabinet officials, who will be in attendance.

Over the past year the TCG has announced the winner of a bid for the "Taipei Twin Towers", a major NT$60 billion commercial development project near Taipei railway station, while construction has gone ahead with the long-delayed Taipei Dome stadium. In terms of public transport, the TCG recently submitted a plan to the Executive Yuan to extend several MRT lines. In terms of green transport, in August last year, the city launched its first fleet of 12 electric buses with a route that stops at Taipei Zoo, National Chengchi University, Taipei City Hall and Songshan Station. To improve traffic flow in the city, the TCG is planning to raise parking fees for motorcycles which will affect around two million motorcycle owners in Taipei City and another three million in New Taipei City that commute into Taipei. In order to improve traffic safety, Mayor Ko has undertaken to continue to enforce traffic rules strictly.

The TCG also recognises the importance of equal treatment of foreign residents and making Taipei friendly for foreign businesses and residents. In this regard Mayor Ko has undertaken to remove remaining issues of discrimination towards foreign residents. In addition, in order to attract more foreign contractors to bid for public infrastructure projects, Mayor Ko has undertaken to ensure tenders for public procurement projects over a certain threshold are available in English.

Despite his unconventional style of governance, Taipei Mayor Ko's no-nonsense, action-oriented approach and communication using social networking have helped him retain popularity with certain voters, particularly the youth, where he retains a much larger support base than establishment politicians from the major political parties. According to several opinion polls, Ko is still the most popular politician in Taiwan. Meanwhile his independent status and political astuteness has helped him to maintain good relations with, for example, the mayor of Shanghai.

This event will offer an opportunity for members to hear about the city's activities and plans for future development. At the lunch, which will be open only to ECCT members, Mayor Ko will give a short address to guests, after which a Q&A session and round-table lunch will be held where members can raise questions or discuss issues of concern with city government officials, who will be seated at different tables at the venue. Among other subjects, members will be able to raise and discuss the following subjects:
• How the TCG aims to improve the English language environment in Taipei and provide equality of treatment to foreign residents
• Major public transport and infrastructure plans, housing, urban renewal projects and tourism
• Plans to improve traffic safety and communications infrastructure (such as public Wi-Fi)
• Plans for intelligent infrastructure including green buildings, electric vehicles and smart grids.

About the speaker
Dr Ko Wen-je has been mayor of the TCG since 2014 and was re-elected to a second term in 2018. Prior to this he was an attending physician and Chairman of the Department of Traumatology at National Taiwan University Hospital. He was also a professor at National Taiwan University College of Medicine specialising in trauma, intensive care and organ transplants. He received both his medical degree and medical doctorate from National Taiwan University.

Cost: NT$1,400 per member; NT$2,000 for members' guests

To cancel without penalty, written cancellations must be received at least 2 working days before the event.
Contact: Fiona Lee / Tel 2740-0236 ext. 215 / Fiona.lee@ecct.com.tw / www.ecct.com.tw