Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) yesterday donated NT$400,000 (US$12,961) toward a Taiwanese presence at this year’s World Expo in Milan, calling on Taiwanese nationwide to make donations.
“If Taiwan does not venture out, how will we be seen by the world?” Ko said, adding that the government should have played the main role in organizing Taiwan’s participation, as well as bearing most of the financial burden.
Taiwan’s participation in such events must not come to depend on aid from civil society instead of government support, he said.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the nation would not participate in this year’s expo because Italian authorities declined Taiwan’s wish to establish a national pavilion at the world’s fair, instead allowing a corporate pavilion.
However, the ministry said a corporate pavilion did not seem feasible, because few Taiwanese businesses are likely to travel to Milan for the event.
Hsieh Tsung-yan (謝宗諺), the organizer of the One Pavilion To Go group that is pursuing Taiwan’s presence in this year’s expo, said that because the event is open to civic groups, it offers a unique opportunity for Taiwan.
Prior to Ko’s donation, Hsieh’s group had raised NT$200,000, compared with a goal of NT$10 million to NT$50 million, he said.
The group plans a mobile “mini” Taiwan truck pavilion, with the possibility of a “kitchen suite” and mini-pavilion if sufficient funds are raised, he said.
Ko’s donation is to come from the election subsidies he received from the central government after his victory in last year’s mayoral election.
The city government itself would not provide any funds, the Taipei City Government Department of Economic Development said.
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