Department of Cultural Affairs

Taipei City will be holding 2011 International Design Alliance (IDA) World Congress, which will mark the capital city of Taiwan's first and also Asia's first time to hold the most long-lasting and authoritative international design event of the world, announced the organizer of the event Taiwan Design Center on August 26.

"After a long term effort in seeking the right to hold the congress, Taiwan finally came out the winner from 19 strong competitors all over the world to win the right," said Wang Chih-kang, chairman of the Ministry of Economic Affairs – affiliated Taiwan Design Center on August 26.
The large-scale fair is expected to raise Taiwan's international profile, boost tourism and generate business opportunities for the domestic design industry.
He pledged that his center will make the event a successful one since the 2011 IDA World Congress will be the first world design congress to be held after the establishment of IDA, a milestone in the history of global design.

Founded in 2007, the IDA groups three world-leading design promotion organizations--the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, the International Council of Graphic Design Associations and the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers, Wang noted.  The event is expected to attract over 3,000 designers from 60 countries and will be a great opportunity for domestic designers to exhibit their work, said Wang.  Wang made the above remark during a press conference held in Taipei on August 26 to formally announced that Taipei will hold the 2011 IDA Congress.

The press conference was joined by MOEA officials, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin and representatives from the IDA.  The IDA event entitled "The Design at the Edges," will be held in three different venues in Taipei, Taipei World Trade Center, Taipei World Trade Center Nangang Exhibition Hall, and the Sungshan Tobacco Factory.

During the press conference, Wang also announced the movement of his Taiwan Design Center to the tobacco factory.  "I hope the move will make Taipei a center for not only Taiwan but also the world's culture and creative industry center," he said, "which is another chance to make Taiwan further shine bright on the world stage."

The 2011 IDA Congress is scheduled to be held on October 2011.