Exclusive Interview: Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Signs MOU in Poland – Taiwan's Drone National Team Advances into Europe

Through the MOU with the Taiwan-Poland Business Association (TAIPO), Chiayi's drone industry advantages are being introduced into Poland and the broader Central and Eastern European market. The 'Pomeranian Region Taiwan-Europe Drone Industry Matchmaking Conference,' hosted by TAIPO, took place on September 8 in Gdańsk, Poland, where the 'Taiwan-Europe UAV Alliance' was officially launched, co-founded by TAIPO and its partners. Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Zhangliang, invited to witness the event, gave an exclusive interview to Chen Youjia, partner and Executive Vice President of Storm Media Group, addressing the MOU he personally signed on September 7 with Invest in Pomerania, Chiayi’s pivotal role in Taiwan’s drone industry, and prospects for Taiwan-Poland defense cooperation. He revealed that Chiayi will break ground next month on a drone manufacturing base, with a central government investment of NT$6.85 billion, aiming to consolidate drone enterprises from across Taiwan into Chiayi, driving nationwide development centered on the 'National Drone Team Base.' The Chiayi County delegation included county officials, TAIPO, drone and advanced manufacturing companies such as Thunder Tiger Corporation, AerosoarX Technology, Taiwan Swarm Innovation, and Taiwan UAV (Smart Flight Technology), as well as academic institutions including National Chung Cheng University and the Intelligent Machinery and Intelligent Manufacturing Research Center at National Formosa University. After the MOU, what’s next? TAIPO is the unbroken link. Magistrate Weng explained that the MOU is broad in scope, covering areas beyond drones, 'including agricultural products and various niche sectors, all with potential for collaboration.' He highlighted TAIPO’s role: 'Through this interaction and TAIPO’s presence, we can look forward to future opportunities between Chiayi and Poland, whether in agriculture, tourism, industry, or drone development.' In his view, TAIPO’s long-term presence in Taiwan is the key to ensuring the relationship 'won’t break.' Why is Chiayi the core? A NT$6.8 billion manufacturing base is about to break ground, with 150 companies awaiting integration. Currently, Taiwan’s drone companies are distributed across the island: over 150 in the north (including supply chain), about 50 in the central region, and around 30 in the south, with the supply chain continuing to expand. Weng stated that the upcoming drone manufacturing base in Chiayi aims to effectively consolidate these dispersed enterprises. He admitted that companies may not close their original locations after moving in: 'For example, a company originally in Taoyuan won’t shut down its Taoyuan site after expanding to Chiayi; the same applies to companies in Taichung.' Like the semiconductor industry, Taiwan’s strategic industries coexist and support each other across the island, 'so drones will likely follow this model—future development won’t be limited to Chiayi alone, but will center on Chiayi while involving the entire island.' The 'Minxiong Aerospace and Drone Industrial Park,' led by the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology and presided over by President Tsai Ing-wen during groundbreaking, spans 50 hectares and is divided into eastern and western zones. The eastern zone, after nearly three years of construction, has been completed and will officially open in September, taking on military-grade drone R&D. The western industrial zone, with a total development cost of NT$6.859 billion, will break ground after the turnkey project is awarded, with completion and recruitment expected by 2028. Over 20 domestic and international companies have already expressed interest in joining. Facilities planned include a low-speed wind tunnel, AI computing center, and smart grid. Chiayi also hosts the Asia Drone AI Innovation Application Research Center, with over 60 government, academic, and research institutions participating and 36 countries having visited. TAIPO Chairman Chao Chung-chieh: B2B accumulation is the right path; real results expected by 2026–2027. TAIPO was the main driving force behind the launch of the 'Taiwan-Europe UAV Alliance.' On the same day, Chairman Chao gave an interview to local Polish media, discussing the association’s role and cooperation pathways. 'Most importantly, both sides must build trust and mutual understanding,' said Chao. TAIPO organized Taiwanese companies to visit Warsaw and Gdańsk, prioritizing Gdańsk as a key entry point, playing a 'facilitator' role in connecting Taiwanese firms with Polish investors or potential partners. Regarding cooperation pathways, he admitted that the G2B (government-to-business) model faces challenges in Taiwan and that B2B foundations should be strengthened gradually, allowing commercial cooperation to naturally evolve. Thanks to TAIPO’s repeated events, Taiwanese companies have gained confidence: 'Both sides can cooperate. I believe we will see real results by 2026 and 2027.' Defense cooperation: Component-level collaboration has already begun, and geopolitical factors will only deepen it. Regarding whether the MOU involves defense procurement, Weng stated directly: 'Defense procurement cannot be at the county level, but defense cooperation between Poland and Taiwan has already begun.' He pointed out that collaboration at the drone component level is already underway and will deepen further. The reason is geopolitics: 'All countries surrounding Russia need drones, and in large quantities—this includes the Baltic Three, as well as many Middle Eastern countries, due to the current geopolitical instability.' He emphasized that Taiwan’s ability to rapidly expand its drone market through global demand is 'a very important development strategy.' However, he clearly differentiated responsibilities: 'Matters involving defense naturally fall under the central government’s jurisdiction, not local governments.' Journalist’s observation: The framework is set—where are the orders? So, how far is Chiayi from substantive cooperation? Weng’s response outlines a dual positioning: one as a physical manufacturing base, and the other as a lever for local diplomacy, using the MOU and TAIPO to connect Chiayi’s drone strengths to Poland and the wider Central and Eastern European market. However, one question he did not directly answer: When will specific orders or cooperation projects between Chiayi and Pomerania materialize? From MOU to industrial implementation is often a long process, especially involving cross-border government procurement and regulatory certification. Chiayi is already Taiwan’s 'National Drone Team Base,' but to become a true hub for Taiwan’s entry into Europe’s defense market—from 'base' to 'leader'—how much further must it go? This remains to be seen. Notably, alongside the 'Taiwan-Europe UAV Alliance,' the 'Taiwan-Poland AI Robotics Alliance' initiative is also advancing, extending cooperation from drones into broader robotics and automation fields. With both mechanisms progressing in parallel, the framework for Taiwan-Poland industrial collaboration is rapidly expanding. But whether this framework can translate into actual orders remains the most critical next step. (Series continues) Founding Members of the Taiwan-Europe UAV Alliance: Taiwan side: Taiwan-Poland Business Association (TAIPO), GUS Technology, TAIPO Investment Sp. z o.o. Poland side: Invest in Pomerania, tnp, Polska Izba Systemów Bezzałogowych (Polish Drone Systems Chamber), Wielton Defence, nordfen, CDDS, kochański & partners, FC Auto System, Kolibri Defence, NestAi