[Reported by Chen Ya-fang, Changhua] Changhua is not only an agricultural powerhouse, but also the cradle of world-class “hidden champions”! Today (28th), the Changhua County Government held a launch event for the new book Changhua Power: The Invisible Force Driving the World Forward. Compiled over nearly a year, the book documents 17 key local enterprises across nine major industries, uncovering how traditional industries evolved from cottage workshops into global market contenders through technological expertise and sheer resilience.

County Magistrate Wang Huei-mei stated that Changhua is home to many formidable enterprises that simply kept a low profile in the past. When the Taiwan Design Expo was held in Changhua for the first time last year, its “Changhua Power” pavilion earned a prestigious German Red Dot Design Award, shining a spotlight on the county’s industrial strength.

Wang pointed out that in 1972, Shieh Tung-min—a Changhua native and then-Chairman of the Taiwan Provincial Government—championed the “Living Rooms as Factories” policy. Many Changhua locals launched their businesses out of living rooms, courtyards, and even pigsties and chicken coops, gradually growing into international enterprises and shaping a unique “farmland economy.”

The book features 17 companies—including Tai Yu, DDK (Feng Ming), E-Lead Electronic, Chien Sheng, Kuo Chien, Odean, Taiwan Steel Union, Covestro Taiwan, and Nan Kuang—spanning nine major sectors: bicycles, automotive, metal products, food, machinery, circular economy, and textiles, illustrating the multifaceted capabilities of Changhua’s manufacturing sector.

Author Wu Chia-chin noted that many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have spent decades working quietly behind the scenes, supplying indispensable equipment, raw materials, and precision components to industries worldwide. Amid global competition, many second-generation successors have chosen to remain in their hometowns, teaming up with the older generation to drive business transformation and showcasing the resilience of Changhua’s enterprises.

Chao Cheng-min, Chairman of China Times Publishing, remarked that although Changhua is primarily recognized as a major agricultural county, it harbors numerous world champions whose machinery and materials quietly power global operations. In addition, an emphasis on family and deep care for employees are signature traits of Changhua businesses.

Chen Shih-hsiao, Chairman of the Changhua County Industrial Association and General Manager of Odean Biotech, emphasized that Changhua is home to over 13,000 factories; while many SMEs are modest in scale, they serve as crucial links in the global supply chain. Tsai Wen-jui, Chairman of DDK Group (Feng Ming), added that to navigate international competition, businesses must not only maintain technical excellence, product quality, and credibility, but also continuously innovate, build their brands, and expand into overseas markets.

The County Government’s Economic and Green Energy Development Department stated that it will continue enhancing the local investment climate, assisting local enterprises in upgrading and transforming, and expanding into international markets to help even more of Changhua’s hidden champions reach the global stage.