Hualien Signs MOU with Major Japanese Startup Community to Advance an International Digital-Nomad City

(中央社訊息服務20250822 15:23:55)Under County Mayor Hsu Chen-Wei, Hualien has actively promoted innovation and entrepreneurship policies, expanding related initiatives year by year. Today at the Hualien Cloud Hub, the county hosted a signing ceremony titled “Digital Nomad Hub × International Startup Community” signing ceremony, where Mayor Hsu and Pablo Riveros, founder of Japan-based Manabu Community, signed an MOU to connect Hualien with global startup resources and build a resource-sharing, talent-exchange ecosystem. At the same event, the county presented the first “Digital Nomad Friendly” labels to 15 lodging operators that passed the first round of reviews.

Mayor Hsu noted that since the establishment of the Youth Development Center (Hualien Startup Hub) in 2019, Hualien has steadily broadened its support for youth affairs and entrepreneurship. What began with seven Hualien startups participating in Meet Taipei has grown into Meet Pacific in Hualien with more than 79 local teams, giving young founders direct access to international networks without needing to leave the East Coast.

She added that the county has embraced maker culture, the Internet of Things, and generative AI to stay ahead of the curve. Last year, Hualien was selected for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (MIT REAP), further strengthening ties with the global innovation network. She also recognized the achievements of Fukuoka’s startup community and Boston’s Venture Café as models worth learning from. The MOU signed today provides new momentum for Hualien’s digital-nomad initiative, and the county will leverage cloud platforms to deepen its international connections.

Manabu Community founder Pablo Riveros said he has visited Hualien many times and holds a Taiwan Employment Gold Card. He is currently assisting the Korean government’s international startup initiatives in Japan and operates a startup space in Fukuoka. Emphasizing that business has no borders, he noted that “manabu” means “to learn” in Japanese, and expressed a desire to keep learning with the world and growing together. He remarked that Hualien is home to many high-quality small and medium-sized enterprises and said the partnership can raise their international visibility.

Taiwan Digital Nomad Association (TDNA) Chair Hsu Kai said Taiwan began promoting digital-nomad policies in 2023 and secured National Development Council (NDC) support in 2025. This year, Tainan and Taitung are serving as pilot cities. As a Hualien native, he believes Hualien has even greater potential. He hopes the opportunity created today will help Hualien become the first digital-nomad community in Taiwan formally connected with international organizations, and said the association will actively help Hualien build ties with partners around the world.

Digital Nomad & Workation Lab founder Atsushi Tanaka observed that remote work accelerated worldwide following the pandemic, and he has been assisting the Japanese government in advancing digital-nomad policy. He underscored the importance of high-quality spaces and on-site facilities when building a digital-nomad base. Noting that many Japanese travelers are fond of Hualien, he said the city has strong potential for digital-nomad development and that he will take what he observed back to Japan to promote it.

SAINO Inc. CEO Junji Murakami said Engineer Cafe recently surpassed 100,000 members. He recalled that the initiative began ten years ago under the Fukuoka City Government with a team of five and has since grown into an international community. He emphasized that success depended on the leadership of the Fukuoka mayor and cooperation across agencies. During this visit, he felt strong momentum in Hualien and expressed confidence in the ecosystem’s growth.

Hualien’s exceptional natural setting, rich cultural heritage, and dynamic industries—together with sustained investment in youth-led startups—make it well-positioned to become a digital-nomad-friendly city. Local lodging operators have taken the lead by applying for the Digital Nomad Friendly Label to offer high-quality stays for visitors from around the world. Beginning in 2025, TDNA launched a certification program for hotels and guesthouses that evaluates high-speed internet, language accessibility, and everyday convenience to foster an environment suited to remote work. In the first round, 15 Hualien properties passed review and received the label, and they will be promoted to international digital nomads.

The MOU with Manabu Community founder Pablo Riveros opens a new avenue for linking Hualien with international startup hubs. It will foster dialogue between local youth-led teams and global communities, positioning Hualien not only as a travel destination but also as a center of creativity and innovation. The partnership aims to strengthen Hualien’s digital-nomad hubs and provide a welcoming environment for international co-creation. Looking ahead, the Hualien Cloud Hub will continue to drive cross-sector collaboration, community building, and industry digital transformation, while deepening ties with international startup hubs to promote exchange and resource sharing.

In 2025, NDC established the Nomad Taiwan Office and set up digital-nomad hubs in Taipei, Tainan, and Taitung. Hualien is ready to join, with the central and local governments working together to make it a new site in Taiwan’s international digital-nomad landscape. NDC specialist Hsu Te-Yu said the digital-nomad visa took effect in January this year and that the Council will continue reviewing potential regulatory relaxations. He added that the central government is advancing a ten-item AI program in which the Hualien and Taitung area plays an important role, and he hopes more international digital nomads will come to Taiwan and to Hualien.

Guests in attendance included NDC specialist Hsu Te-Yu; Manabu Community founder Pablo Riveros; University of Yamanashi professor and Digital Nomad & Workation Lab founder Atsushi Tanaka; SAINO Inc. CEO Junji Murakami; TDNA Chair Hsu Kai; Hualien County Councilors Dibus Ilai and Han Lin-Mei; Hualien County Government Research and Administration Department Director-General Chen Chien-Tsun; Industrial Development and Investment Promotion Association Secretary-General Chang Fu-Pin; Tourism Department Deputy Director-General Lin Chia-Chang; Youth Development Center Executive Director Huang Hsiao-Ying; and Office Director Chen Chung-Min from Legislator Fu Kun-chi’s office.