Taiwan’s hosting of this year’s International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress, widely known as the Olympiad of the design industry, will help make this a milestone year for the country, Premier Wu Den-yih (吳敦義) said yesterday.
The congress will be held in Taipei from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26. It will be the first time that an Asian country will be hosting a joint convention of the world’s three largest design organizations.
The IDA Congress, along with various local and international activities, will contribute to making this year “the Year of Taiwan Design,” Wu said after hearing a report by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, which is one of the main organizers of the extravaganza.
Wu encouraged organizations to take full advantage of the opportunity to show off Taiwan’s “soft power” through its creativity and cultural heritage. Saying that it is a rare opportunity for Taiwan to host a world-class event, Wu thanked the former Democratic Progressive Party administration for its efforts to win the bid in 2007.
The ministry estimates that the extravaganza will generate more than NT$8 billion (US$275.86 million) in tourism revenues. More than 3,000 local and foreign design professionals are expected to attend the congress and an estimated 4 million people from home and abroad will visit the design exhibitions at the event, ministry officials said.
Taipei beat noted world design capitals such as Paris and Melbourne in 2007 to secure the right to host the congress.
The IDA comprises the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, the International Council of Graphic Design Associations and the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers.
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