Businesses are looking to make a quick buck by releasing souvenirs marking the nation's 11th presidential inauguration on Thursday.
The nation's central bank last Friday showed off gold and silver coins it had minted for the ceremony.
PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FENG, TAIPEI TIMES
Portraits of President Chen Shui-bian (
The bank will issue 8,500 gold coins for NT$16,000 each, 41,000 silver coins for NT$1,200 each, and 14,300 sets comprising a gold and a silver coin for NT$17,500 each. The coins each weigh 31g.
The sales are expected to generate NT$435.45 million.
The public can buy the coins from now until the end of the month, although they won't be delivered until August.
Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp (
Taiwan Tobacco chairman Morgan Hwang (
"Apart from the premium liquor -- like Shaohsing wine (
Taiwan Tobacco yesterday held a charity event to sell 14 sets of Kaoliang Liquor, with a local construction company placing the highest bid of NT$320,000 for one set.
The total proceeds of NT$3.3 million will go to 10 social welfare organizations, according to the state-owned company.
While state-run enterprises have been promoting their souvenirs with high-profile activities, private companies have been keeping a low profile.
Four years ago, I-Mei Foods Co (義美食品) released boxed cookies that bore pictures of Chen, Lu, former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), former vice president Lien Chan (連戰) and Academia Sinica President Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲) on the cover to "mark the nation's first peaceful transfer of political power," company spokeswoman Paula Tsai (蔡寶來) said yesterday.
"No souvenirs will be launched this year since this is merely a normal [presidential] election, unlike the unprecedented significance last time," she said.
Tsai dismissed media speculation that electoral disputes had influenced the marketing strategy of her company, whose general manager, Kao Chih-ming (
Jumping on the bandwagon, while trying to avoid getting too close to sensitive political issues, major department stores have launched promotions that include certain goods -- such as shirts, shoes and electric shavers -- priced at NT$520, in reference to the date of the inauguration.
Frances Chiou (
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