The Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Taipei hosted the “SPAIN at the CHI MEI” Spanish National Day event in collaboration with Chimei Museum. This is the first time the Spanish National Day celebrations are held in Tainan. Tainan City Deputy Mayor Chao Ching-hui attended the Oct. 12 event on behalf of Mayor Huang Wei-che. The Mayor sent orchids painted with traditional Spanish colors to forward his best wishes.
Noting that Tainan will commemorate its 400th anniversary in 2024, Mayor Huang expressed that Tainan owes its unique history and cultural background to the different groups of people living here, including the Spanish, and hopes that more Spaniards will choose to make Tainan their second home. He also mentioned Como en Casa Gourmet, a Spanish restaurant located in Anping District which has been recommended by the MICHELIN Guide this year.
Huang remarked that the National Day event is a very good start for future Tainan and Spanish partnerships, and looks forward to facilitating more interactions between the two sides in economy and trade since Tainan and Spain both produce high-quality agricultural goods.
Deputy Mayor Chao Ching-hui also pointed out that the automobile industry could be another potential collaboration area as Spain has a strong automobile industry and Tainan’s Shalun Green Energy Science City, which is not far from Chimei Museum, is developing self-driving technology.
Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Taipei Director General Eduardo Euba expressed that he is honored and grateful to celebrate National Day in Tainan, a city rich in culture and history, and thanked Chimei Museum for this collaboration opportunity. Euba further noted that 2022 is still filled with uncertainty and Spain looks forward to working with allies like Taiwan which values freedom and democracy to face the challenges together.
Chi Mei Museum Director Shi Chia-chang said that the event celebrates not only Spain’s National Day but also the friendship and art and cultural exchanges between Tainan and Spain, and Chimei is honored to work with the Chamber of Commerce to host the event. The Taiwanese public is familiar with Spain, the Director remarked, and artists such as Picasso and Gaudi are well-known throughout the world and their work has enriched our lives.
The SPAIN at the CHI MEI event features many Taiwanese and Spanish cultural and art collaborations, including a concert by Spanish cellist Arturo Costa, who played Chimei Museum’s Boccherini-Romberg cello, and an exhibition by Spanish artist and sculptor Salvador Marco, who resides in Taiwan. Local Spanish restaurant Como en Casa Gourmet was invited to design the event menu.