The two-day competition began Thursday and wraps up today at InterContinental Kaohsiung (高雄洲際酒店). It is part of a global series organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, which brings together startups, venture capital firms, and technology executives. Organizers say the Startup World Cup includes more than 100 regional competitions across six continents. The winner in Kaohsiung will advance to the global competition, scheduled for Nov. 4–6 at Hilton Union Square in San Francisco.

UPS said the new facility doubles the size and parcel-processing capacity of its southern Taiwan operations, and said the center will serve customers in Gangshan Industrial Park, Gangshan Beizhou Industrial Park, Nanzi Technology Park, and Renwu Industrial Park, all of which are part of the industrial corridor developing around northern Kaohsiung.

A wide range of political and business figures attended the opening ceremony on Sunday, including KMT Legislator Su Ching-chuan (蘇清泉), DPP Legislator Chung Chia-pin (鍾佳濱), Pingtung City Mayor Chou Chia-chi (周佳琪), and half a dozen county councilors, officials, as well as candidates running in the November local elections.

Fu said that government purchases of drones and unmanned boats could give local metalworking and manufacturing companies a route into higher-value defense and aerospace supply chains.

Afritai Ltd. (亞非台有限公司) founder Ubadigha Chinweze told Kaohsiung Times that he first noticed the opportunity while working part-time at a scrapyard as a student in Taiwan. One of his jobs was helping load shipping containers bound for Africa. The experience showed him that many Taiwanese used cars and auto parts still had value in overseas markets.

The event is scheduled for July 24 at InterContinental Kaohsiung (高雄洲際酒店), according to the Taiwan Startup World Cup website. Organizers said the Kaohsiung event is part of a broader initiative to connect southern Taiwan’s startup teams with international investors, business leaders, accelerators, and entrepreneurship networks.