Creative Expo Taiwan kicked off April 18 in Taipei City, spotlighting the nation’s spirit of innovation and dynamic cultural and creative industry.
Organized by the Ministry of Culture, the five-day event features 559 exhibitors from 23 countries and territories showcasing their latest designs at Huashan 1914 Creative Park, Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, and Taipei Expo Park. The fair, themed Body Knowledge, also comprises forums and film screenings bringing visitors up to speed on the nation’s design brand and image licensing.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice President Chen Chien-jen said the expo is a valuable platform for highlighting local culture and expanding the global reach of Taiwan firms. It also helps spur interdisciplinary collaboration between the cultural and creative sector and industries from home and abroad, he added.
According to Chen, culture and innovation are major drivers of national development and pivotal to Taiwan’s economic revitalization strategies such as the five-plus-two initiative. The government is promoting the adoption of pioneering approaches in key fields such as infrastructure and public services so as to enhance quality of life for all, he said.
The five-plus-two innovative industries initiative targets the five high-growth sectors of biotech and pharmaceuticals, green energy, national defense, smart machinery and Internet of Things, as well as the promotion of two concepts: the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development.
Spanning 7-hectare Huashan 1914 Creative Park, the main expo area consists of six themed sections on Taiwan’s crafts, food, fashion, mountains, hip-hop culture and visual designs. Highlights at the other venues include a design brand exhibition at Songshan and image licensing fair at Taipei Expo Park.
A unique aspect of this year’s event is 10 themed self-guided tours developed by Taiwan talents spotlighting aspects of the nation’s aesthetics, cultural diversity and creativity. In a similar vein, 13 cities and counties are displaying trips encompassing 146 cultural destinations as part of efforts to support local businesses.
Launched in 2010, the annual Creative Expo Taiwan plays a key role in the strategic promotion of the cultural and creative industry by the MOC. The sector was first included in the national development plan in 2002 and further prioritized following promulgation of the Law for the Development of the Cultural and Creative Industries in 2010. (CPY-E)
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