TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) instructed the Taipei Rapid Transit Corporation (TRTC, 台北捷運公司) and the Department of Finance (財政局) on Tuesday (Nov. 5) to study the recent listing of Tokyo Metro on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The mayor aims to assess the feasibility of a similar public offering for Taipei's metro system by next year.
Tokyo Metro debuted on the exchange's Prime board at the end of October, reaching a market value exceeding NT$200 billion. Previously, the Japanese government held approximately 53.42% of the company, while the Tokyo metropolitan government owned 46.58%. Both entities sold about half of their shares to facilitate the listing.
During a municipal meeting, Chiang highlighted Tokyo Metro's diverse operations, which include railway transportation, real estate development along rail lines, and retail businesses within station areas. He noted that Tokyo Metro's successful IPO offers a strategic direction for Taipei, emphasizing that corporatization and marketization can significantly enhance operational efficiency.
Chiang wanted to provide Taiwanese investors with new opportunities and cited the limited investment options available in Taiwan.