Taiwan’s first International Freshness Logistics Center officially opened this morning in Pingtung, with Premier Su Tseng-Chang attending the inauguration ceremony. Su called on relevant authorities to replicate this model, emphasizing the need to develop not only national-level facilities but also regional cold chain logistics centers. He noted that these efforts will help elevate Taiwan’s agricultural sector to a new stage of development. The Executive Yuan has pledged full support for related infrastructure, stating that there will be no cap on funding, and expressed hope that, starting from Pingtung, local agriculture across Taiwan can become more competitive.

Located in the Pingtung Agricultural Biotechnology Park, the International Freshness Logistics Center has a total floor area of 10,188 square meters. Hsieh Sheng-Hsin, Director of the Preparatory Office, stated that the facility is equipped with functions including chilled and frozen storage, rapid freezing, cutting and processing, and ripening. Construction began in October 2020 and was completed in May this year, followed by three months of trial operations. At the core of the facility is an automated frozen storage system with a capacity of 7,800 metric tons, operating at -25°C, which is expected to become a key hub for agricultural processing and distribution in southern Taiwan.

Premier Su Tseng-Chang emphasized that the Pingtung International Freshness Logistics Center is the first of its kind in Taiwan, with another facility currently located in Taoyuan. He noted that if the Pingtung center proves successful, the government will require relevant authorities to replicate the model. Going forward, Taiwan will develop not only national-level facilities but also regional cold chain logistics centers, tailored to different types of agricultural products and their specific cold chain requirements. These efforts aim to further enhance the competitiveness of Taiwan’s agricultural products.

Following the morning inauguration ceremony, Premier Su Tseng-Chang toured the logistics center, taking a closer look at the facility layout and its future operational model. Minister of the Council of Agriculture Chen Chi-Chung said that, in the future, pineapples can be processed at the International Freshness Logistics Center—including crown removal and fresh-cut processing—to ensure export quality. Roundday Logistics Chairman Chen Hsu-Chu, whose company operates the center, stated that agricultural products have already been sent for processing, and the facility is expected to become a key agricultural distribution hub in southern Taiwan.

Reprinted from udn video