President Ma Ying-jeou attended the opening of the 2009 International Conference on Aerotropolis on the morning of April 28 at the Taipei International Convention Center and delivered remarks to the participants. In addition to explaining Taiwan's distinctive geographic advantages, the president outlined plans to develop an aviation city here as well as the strong prospects for the project.
President Ma commented that at the time when Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport commenced operations in February 1979 it was one of the most advanced international airports in Asia. Many people came to Taiwan specifically to look at the airport. After many years of use, however, the airport's facilities and operations have become outdated. In addition, the lack of a clear development plan has impeded expansion of the international airport. In response, he said that when he was running for president two years ago, he specifically included the development of an aerotropolis, which had been proposed by Taoyuan County Magistrate Eric Liluan Chu, as one of the i-Taiwan 12 Projects. The plan calls for the development in stages of over 5,000 hectares of land in the vicinity of the airport. At the same time, the aerotropolis, together with the development of the Port of Taipei, will create an important transportation network providing integrated aviation and maritime links with the rest of the world.
President Ma said that Taiwan is exceptionally gifted in terms of its geographic location. At the eastern edge of the Pacific Ocean is the United States, the world's largest economy. Sitting north of Taiwan, across the East China Sea and Yellow Sea, is Japan, the world's second biggest economy. To Taiwan's west on the other side of the Taiwan Strait is mainland China, the third largest economy in the world. And to Taiwan's south are the 10 ASEAN nations, which together form the world's fifth largest economy. The president said that in addition, many people from South Asian countries each week select Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport as the place to transit on their way to the United States for business or pleasure. President Ma commented that the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei and business groupings from other countries and regions have annually urged the government to rapidly liberalize direct shipping and aviation ties between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, which would enable Taiwan's small local market to be transformed into an important regional springboard. In response to these calls, the president said that after his administration took office on May 20 last year, efforts were made immediately to promote direct transportation links with mainland China. These links have been upgraded from routine charter flights to an agreement signed between the two sides just three days ago that will allow for 270 flights each week. This creates a much improved chance for Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to become a regional springboard, and highlights Taiwan's advantages and potential to serve as a regional transshipment center, he said.
The president indicated that the government has begun plans to construct a third terminal at the airport and is working to coordinate an appropriate balance of military and civilian airfields here. The government, he said, will also be spending NT$1.9 billion to renovate Terminal One, which is expected to increase capacity at the terminal by 25% and enable the facility to handle 15 million passengers a year upon completion, up from the current 12 million. The terminal will have 13,000 square meters of space available. Moreover, the president said that by the year 2035, the number of passengers using the airport will increase to 47.50 million, up from 21.93 million in 2008. Over the same period, the volume of cargo handled will increase to 4.02 million metric tons from 1.49 million metric tons. These numbers point to the enormous potential for the Taoyuan Aerotropolis to become a major transshipment center in the Asian region, he said.
Lastly, President Ma expressed his hopes that the central and local governments will work together in carrying out the various plans under the aerotropolis project, thereby exhibiting Taiwan's determination to realize the aviation city initiative. This will help Taiwan to remain in step with the rest of the world and become a new focus of international attention.