《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》Annual orchid show commences

‘KINGDOM OF ORCHIDS’: The annual event features various orchid species from Taiwan, as well as a display of rare monkey orchids from Peru and Ecuador

/ Staff writer, with CNA

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The annual Taiwan International Orchid Show began in Tainan yesterday and is expected to generate export orders worth more than NT$10 billion （US$303.5 million） over three years starting this year.

Su Mao-shiang （蘇茂祥）, chief secretary at the Agriculture and Food Agency made the export predictions.

He said exports of Taiwan-grown orchids have been increasing for several years and the volume is expected to continue to rise this year, with the US set to ease restrictions on the imports of dancing-doll orchids in March.

Premier Simon Chang （張善政）, who attended yesterday’s event, said Taiwan’s orchid exports are about US$200 million per year, adding that moth orchids and dancing-doll orchids are especially popular.

On Friday, an opening ceremony was held for the exhibition, which was attended by president-elect Tsai Ing-wen （蔡英文）, who said Tainan is the “kingdom of orchids.”

Orchids from Taiwan have been exported to as many as 86 countries, making it one of the nation’s most competitive industries, Tsai said.

One out of every six orchids produced around the world comes from Tainan, she added.

Now in its 12th year, the annual Tainan orchid show is also one of the world’s top three orchid exhibitions, generating substantial economic revenue for Taiwan, Tsai said, adding that orchids have also become a big draw for visitors to Tainan.

The event is to run through March 21 at the Taiwan Orchid Plantation in Tainan. It is expected to attract more than 3,000 buyers and foreign guests from 24 countries.

Covering an area of about 20,000m2, the exhibition has six themed halls featuring displays of various orchid species from Taiwan, as well as orchids from other nations.

One of the halls also focuses on the introduction of an orchid species unique to Taiwan and the development of the industry.

In addition to Taiwanese orchids, one of the highlights at the event is a display of rare monkey orchids from Peru and Ecuador, in keeping with the Year of the Monkey in the Chinese zodiac.

The monkey orchid, known scientifically as Dracula simia, grows in the mountainous regions of Ecuador, Colombia and Peru and looks like the grinning face of a very small monkey.

The trade show is being jointly organized by the Tainan City Government and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, in cooperation with National Cheng Kung University’s Research Center of Orchid and other organizations.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES