Department of Cultural Affairs

By Yali Chen
STAFF REPORTER
Photo Courtesy of Taipei City Government

Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-pin announced at a press conference in Taipei on April 15 that the countdown to the 2011 Taipei World Design Expo kicked off. Vice President Vincent Siew, Economic Affairs Minister Shih Yen-shiang and TAITRA (Taiwan External Trade Development Council) Chairman Wang Chih-kang also attended this countdown ceremony.

Hau said the design expo in September was another big event for Taipei City after the 2009 Summer Deaflympics and the 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition.

In addition to the Taipei design expo, Taiwan will hold a series of international events to celebrate the Republic of China’s centennial year, Siew said, adding that they include the 2011 Sherwood LPGA Taiwan Championship in Taoyuan County, the 2011 International Band Festival in Chiayi City, and the 2011 IPI (International Press Institute) World Congress and 60th Annual General Assembly in Taipei.

Shih said that the output from Taiwan’s design industries had exceeded NT$70 billion and that the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) will support Taipei city government to apply for the World Design Capital in 2016 – a city promotion project by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design to recognize and award achievements made by cities around the world in the field of design.

Over 53 enterprises, 50 design companies, 26 colleges of art and design, and 36 professional associations for design from 16 countries including Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, China, the U.S., the U.K., France, the Netherlands, Germany and Russia are expected to take part in the Taipei design expo.

Featuring works of industrial, interior, graphic and craft design, the expo will run from September 30 to October 30 at the Songshan Tobacco Factory, the Nangang Exhibition Hall and the World Trade Center Exhibition Hall.

The 53 exhibitors include well-known names such as BenQ Group, Luxgen Motor, Muji, Pacific Cycles, Nova Design and Tittot.