NT$22.2bn set aside for exhibition halls

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) announced a NT$22.2 billion (US$673 million) plan yesterday for expanding an exhibition hall in Nangang, Taipei, and building another in Kaohsiung.

Nangang Exhibition Hall is expected to be completed by the end of this year, while its Kaohsiung counterpart should be ready in 2010.

"We want to pay more attention to the `marketing' business," Chang said.

During the weekly Cabinet meeting yesterday morning, Chang said the exhibition hall projects enhanced the government's policy of balancing development in the north and the south.

Chang said the government would recruit more professionals for convention activities.

It will also seek to attract the family members of buyers coming to Taiwan for trade fairs and conventions.

"This is business that is worth our attention," Chang said.

Approximately 30,000 local companies will benefit from the plan to boost convention activities, Chang said.

As many as 22,000 foreign buyers, with a potential net profit of US$1.6 billion, are expected to visit every year.

Minister of Economic Affairs Steve Chen (陳瑞隆) told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that hosting international conventions and activities -- such as the APEC meeting -- was one of the objectives of the government.