The Taiwan International Cultural and Creative Industry Expo opened yesterday in Taipei, displaying cultural and creative products and technologies from home and abroad.
The expo, which runs until Sunday, features more than 500 companies and organizations from 15 countries and regions occupying 952 booths, according to the Ministry of Culture, which organized the event.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who attended the opening ceremony, said one of the reasons Taiwan is so attractive to tourists is because of its small creative shops scattered throughout its streets and alleys.
Photo: CNA
He said one of the highlights of the expo is Taiwan’s creative second generation, who have built on the foundations of their parents’ businesses to make a “new realm” for themselves.
Ma called on more people to join the cultural and creative industries, and expressed confidence that Taiwan’s open and free society is an ideal place to develop such industries.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture Lung Ying-tai (龍應台) said many might think that cultural and creative industries are a modern concept, but she said products such as grapes had been used since ancient times to make value-added products.
Grapes were made into wine, she said, adding that the wine then became different brands which were drunk at gourmet meals, affecting lifestyles and became a way to show off one’s prestige.
“Aren’t grapes part of one of the oldest cultural and creative industries?” she asked.
The products on display at the expo include Taiwanese lacquerware, award-winning furniture, T-shirts, woodcraft, jewelry and other accessories, candies and herbal handmade soaps.
Buyers representing about 60 department stores, malls, boutiques, supermarkets and museums in countries such as the US, France, Thailand and Japan are expected to attend the expo to negotiate deals, the ministry said.
Last year, the expo attracted more than 71,000 visitors and recorded deals valued at more than NT$227 million (US$7.78 million).
The Taiwan International Cultural and Creative Industry Expo, now in its third year, is a trading and exchange platform for corporate procurement, brand licensing, distributor networking and business matchmaking.
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