Taiwan’s Tech World pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan, is to be recreated in Chiayi County for a temporary exhibition from March 1 to 15 during the Taiwan Lantern Festival, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) announced today.
Online reservations are expected to open tomorrow.
The pavilion in Osaka attracted more than 1.16 million visitors at last year’s World Expo, showcasing Taiwan’s scenic beauty and cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Photo: CNA
The exhibition invited visitors to take a virtual tour of Taiwan and, with the help of a smart bracelet and AI algorithms, receive customized trip suggestions to scenic spots around the country.
The pavilion’s recreation was a joint effort between Minister Without Portfolio Ma Yung-cheng (馬永成) and the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Cho said.
Chiayi was chosen to host the exhibition as the pavilion’s “Nature Theater” showcases the county’s Yushan (Jade Mountain, 玉山), he said.
Photo: CNA
The pavilion’s exterior cannot be exactly replicated, although it would be recreated in a similar fashion, Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) Chairman James Huang (黃志芳) said.
The three exhibits — Life Theater, Nature Theater and Future Theater — would maintain their original essence, he added.
Although the Osaka World Expo required all pavilions to dismantle the structures and recycle the materials after the exposition ended in October, cutting-edge technology would be used to recreate its original appearance, International Trade Administration Deputy Director Susan Hu (胡啟娟) said.
The exhibition would not be permanent and would close after March 15, she added.
It would be funded using the remaining budget from its original construction and supplementary support from the Executive Yuan, she said, adding that the estimated cost is between NT$80 million and NT$90 million (US$2.53 million and US$2.85 million).
Construction of the original pavilion cost NT$2 billion, TAITRA said.
After visiting the festival, legislators should return to Taipei to secure necessary funding, Cho added, referencing recent debates over budgets between the ruling and opposition parties.
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