President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) spoke at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Asia Pacific Orchid Conference (APOC) and Taiwan International Orchid Show (TIOS) in Tainan on Friday, stating that as the “Orchid Kingdom” Taiwan's flower industry has steadily upgraded its technology, branding, and internationalization over the past 20 years. Lai said that over the next 20 years, the government will continue to promote further development to show Taiwan's culture to the world.
The president said that orchids are a flagship for Taiwan's agricultural product exports, with an overall output value of NT$6.4 billion (over US$195 million), of which exports accounted for NT$6.1 billion (more than US$185.9 million). The export market covers more than 60 countries including the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia.
Tainan's Orchid Biotechnology Park ranks among the world's leading orchid breeding, supply, and biotechnology research and development centers. President Lai announced that an additional 120 hectares of land will be added to the facility to increase biotechnology and smart agricultural applications. He said that since his term as mayor of Tainan, he has hoped that Taiwan orchids can let the world see Taiwan's cultural soft power and spread the beauty, tenacity, friendship, and confidence represented by orchids to every corner of the world.
The APOC, held every three years, will be held in combination with the TIOS on Saturday. The TIOS is one of the three largest orchid shows in the world, attracting more than 300,000 visitors last year, on par with the World Orchid Show and the Tokyo Orchid Show. It will be open to the public at the Taiwan Orchid Biotechnology Park in Houbi District, Tainan City from March 8 to 23.