After being suspended for two years due to the pandemic, the Taiwan International Orchid Show has finally returned this year. On Mar. 25, Tainan City hosted the opening ceremony which attracted 26 diplomats and foreign representatives from 16 countries. After the ceremony, they visited the orchid expo area and were deeply impressed by the beautiful orchids.
Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che thanked the foreign representatives for their support and attendance at the Taiwan International Orchid Show held in Tainan City’s Houbi District. This Orchid Show is one of the world’s three main orchid exhibitions and serves as an important interaction platform for orchid industries and relevant academia all over the globe. The Mayor hoped that in addition to enjoying the fragrant scents of the blossoms at the venue, the foreign representatives can also learn more about the recent developments in Tainan’s agriculture, culture and creativity, and technology, and promote Tainan’s orchids to their home countries.
H.E. Ambassador Jasmine Elise Huggins, Head of the Diplomatic Corp, expressed gratitude to the Tainan City government for the invitation and the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of orchids and learn more about the advanced orchid cultivating technologies. The pandemic has caused people to become estranged from one another over the last two years, but having the opportunity to admire flowering orchids at the exhibition today heals the soul. Ambassador Huggins also mentioned that Tainan is Taiwan’s cultural capital and she is very grateful for the hospitality and generosity of the locals every time she visited the city.
H.E. Ambassador Willy Alberto Gómez Tirado from Guatemala applauded the event’s execution and Taiwan’s booming orchid industry. He was impressed by the colors and shapes of the orchids, he said.
Executive Director Mr. Axel Heinrich Fritz Limberg of the German Trade Office Taipei shared that he and his wife are very happy to be part of this visit which combines culture with creative agriculture. They also complimented the variety of flowers they observed.
India Taipei Association Director General Gourangalal Das said he had not expected to see so many orchids of various hues and shapes before coming to Tainan and has gained a better understanding of the remarkable orchid cultivating technology of Tainan and Taiwan after visiting the expo.
In addition to the orchid expo visit, Tainan City Government hosted a lunch composed of authentic Tainan dishes for the foreign representatives. They visited local orchid businesses in the afternoon and learned more about the ecosystem and production procedure of the orchid industry.