Can Taiwan transform itself into an orchid kingdom in the near future? The floriculture community in Taiwan has had this ambitious dream for many years and a positive turn toward such a possibility has just taken place this week.
About two years ago, a plan was launched by the government to build a permanent exhibition site and trading center for local orchid growers. The plan has come to fruition and is about to put to be put to the test, starting from tomorrow.
If it proves successful and the large-scale international orchid exhibition is a success, then Taiwan, the world's leading exporter country of orchids, might be viewed as the natural home of the magnificent
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL ORCHID SHOW 2005
phalaenopsis.
The government has poured billions of NT dollars into developing the Taiwan Orchid Plantation (TOP) project in Hobi (
The plantation has an area of 200 hectares and is scheduled to be completed in 2008.
Beginning tomorrow, the fourth international orchid show -- the largest annual orchid exhibit in Taiwan -- will be held at the plantation.
With 15 participating countries, this multi-national floral exhibit will showcase more than a thousand orchids to the public, until April 10.
Cosponsored by the Tainan County Government and Council of Agriculture, this 14-day event expects to attract approximately half a million flower lovers from all over Taiwan and abroad.
Three major areas will feature different varieties of orchids, flower arrangements and landscape design. Handicrafts with orchids, the chance to experience the fragrance of the flowers and other attractions will be enjoyed by visitors. There will even be a section devoted to orchid stamps from around the world.
The award-winning Orchid Exhibition Hall (
The Sales Booth Hall (
According to Su Mao-shiang (蘇茂祥), an official from the Agriculture and Food Agency, at the Council of Agriculture, Taiwan is the world's largest exporting country of orchids, with Japan, North America, Europe and Hong Kong as its major markets. The flowers bring in an annual income of around US$60 millions for the country.
Stiff competition is coming but Su says Taiwan maintained a comfortable lead in the global orchid market and captured a 77 percent share last year.
Exhibition notes:
What: Taiwan International Orchid Show 2005
Where: Taiwan Orchid Plantation (台灣蘭花生物科技園區), Hobi (後壁), Tainan County
When: March 26 to April 10
Tickets: NT$150 per person
Telephone: (06) 6840 684
May 18 to May 24 Pastor Yang Hsu’s (楊煦) congregation was shocked upon seeing the land he chose to build his orphanage. It was surrounded by mountains on three sides, and the only way to access it was to cross a river by foot. The soil was poor due to runoff, and large rocks strewn across the plot prevented much from growing. In addition, there was no running water or electricity. But it was all Yang could afford. He and his Indigenous Atayal wife Lin Feng-ying (林鳳英) had already been caring for 24 orphans in their home, and they were in
On May 2, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫), at a meeting in support of Taipei city councilors at party headquarters, compared President William Lai (賴清德) to Hitler. Chu claimed that unlike any other democracy worldwide in history, no other leader was rooting out opposing parties like Lai and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). That his statements are wildly inaccurate was not the point. It was a rallying cry, not a history lesson. This was intentional to provoke the international diplomatic community into a response, which was promptly provided. Both the German and Israeli offices issued statements on Facebook
Even by the standards of Ukraine’s International Legion, which comprises volunteers from over 55 countries, Han has an unusual backstory. Born in Taichung, he grew up in Costa Rica — then one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies — where a relative worked for the embassy. After attending an American international high school in San Jose, Costa Rica’s capital, Han — who prefers to use only his given name for OPSEC (operations security) reasons — moved to the US in his teens. He attended Penn State University before returning to Taiwan to work in the semiconductor industry in Kaohsiung, where he
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday delivered an address marking the first anniversary of his presidency. In the speech, Lai affirmed Taiwan’s global role in technology, trade and security. He announced economic and national security initiatives, and emphasized democratic values and cross-party cooperation. The following is the full text of his speech: Yesterday, outside of Beida Elementary School in New Taipei City’s Sanxia District (三峽), there was a major traffic accident that, sadly, claimed several lives and resulted in multiple injuries. The Executive Yuan immediately formed a task force, and last night I personally visited the victims in hospital. Central government agencies and the
RSS