Taiwan blooms with major orchid shows

After 12 years of active pursuit, the 20th Taiwan International Orchid Show hosted the 23rd World Orchid Conference and Exhibition (WOC) in February, marking the world's first joint exhibition of two major events in the orchid industry.

The WOC runs every three years and rotates through different cities, alternating between the southern and northern hemispheres, and is largely considered to be one of the leading events within the global orchid trade.

The co-hosted events took place from 24 February to 10 March at the Taiwan Orchid Technology Park and International Convention Center Tainan (ICC Tainan), coinciding with the Taiwan Lantern Festival which was held during the same period, enabling the city to showcase a diverse offering of orchids, food, and culture to international visitors.

Orchids are one of Taiwan's important export floricultural products. Deputy director-general of the Agriculture and Food Agency, Yao Chih-Wang, said that the annual production value of orchids in Taiwan exceeds NT$7 billion (US$218 million), with exports accounting for 90%. Its main markets include the US, Japan, and Vietnam. Tainan orchid farmers have advanced beyond traditional industry frameworks, integrating elements of art, lifestyle aesthetics, and smart technology into their businesses.

The exhibition was divided into five pavilions focusing on thematic landscapes, daily life applications, digital interactions, six zones and 120 symposiums. One exhibition hall at the event in Taiwan’s southern Tainan city showcased how orchids could be integrated into interior design.

The Orchid Show drew some 300,000 visitors including 1,000 international buyers. The Conference focused on discussions such as orchid conservation, history, culture, academic research, and practical applications. A Digital Floral Pavilion offered statistical data and cloud content for on-site discussions. Besides having a business negotiation area, the exhibition also offered suppliers open-day slots where foreign buyers could visit production bases to understand the orchid growing process.