New Southbound Policy Portal

Taiwan International Orchid Show kicked off March 1 in the southern city of Tainan, showcasing the country’s complete supply chain and world-leading cultivation resources.
 
During the opening ceremony at Taiwan Orchid Plantation in Houbi District, President Tsai Ing-wen said orchids are a tremendous source of pride for the country and one of its most competitive sectors. The government will continue promoting Tainan as the global center for orchid species development and seedling supply, she added.

Co-organized by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and Tainan City Government, the annual show is expected to attract more than 3,000 buyers and visitors from 40-plus countries and chalk up a record 300,000 visits.

According to TAITRA, some of the heavyweight buyers are Black Tulip Flowers LLC from the United Arab Emirates, DVP-Deco and debutant Glomitz, from Hungary, and Terra viva Agrifloricultura from Brazil.

Event highlights include a competition involving around 1,200 entrants, an exhibition featuring more than 200,000 orchids drawn from 800 varieties, and a business forum and symposium. At a TAITRA-organized matchmaking session Feb. 27 in Tainan, US$5.14 million in deals were sealed between 14 buyers from nine countries and 30 local orchid suppliers over the course of 236 one-on-one meetings.

Established in 2005, the event ranks alongside the Asia-Pacific Orchid Conference and the World Orchid Conference as the largest of its kind in the world. Taichung City in central Taiwan is set to host the next WOC in March 2020.

Statistics from the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture reveal that Taiwan’s orchid exports hit US$192 million in 2018, up 8 percent year on year and accounting for nearly 92 percent of all flower shipments. (SFC-E)
 
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw