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Kate Gallego

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego will spend the next two weeks visiting South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. She plans to meet with technology industry leaders to discuss economic development opportunities for Phoenix. 

After Gallego’s first visit to Taiwan in 2019, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company announced a $40 billion dollar chip factory in Arizona. Gallego told KJZZ News she’s hoping this trip could lead to further expansion of the Valley’s role in the semiconductor industry. She said that would mean more high-wage jobs.

“So many of the devices and products we will buy in the future, from our cars to our phones, need advanced semiconductors and we want to be making them in Phoenix," Gallego said. "It positions us to continue the economic success we see today.”

Gallego said she’s also advocating for airlines to begin direct flights between Phoenix and Asian cities.

"International flights bring so much economic opportunity and business," Gallego said. "We see business executives doing more business if we can have an easier time for them to come to Phoenix. Tourism is also incredibly important to our economy and so many of our business executives first visit our community as tourists."

Gallego is traveling with members of Phoenix’s City Council, representatives from the city’s Economic Development Department, and members of the nonprofit Phoenix Sister Cities organization. She will visit Suwon, South Korea, Himeji, Japan, and Taipei, Taiwan, all of which are Phoenix Sister Cities.