The new 4.5-hectare NT$3bn (US$98.9m) waterfront exhibition and convention centre in Taiwan’s second city, Kaohsiung Exhibition Center officially opened in April.
The ceremony was attended by 600 guests, including Wu Den-Yih, VP of Taiwan Republic of China (ROC); Madame Chen Chu, Kaohsiung mayor; Chang Chia-Juch, minister of economic affairs; Chang Chun-Fu, director general of the Bureau of Foreign Trade; Michael Tu, president of Kaohsiung Exhibition Center Corporation; Chih-Kang Wang, chairman of TAITRA; Joe Chen, chairman of Taiwan Industrial Fasteners Institute; and Mark Cochrane, representing the global association of the exhibition industry, UFI.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs provided the investment for the facility in Kaohsiung’s New Bay Area. The venue’s conference rooms can accommodate 4,000 people.
Vice-president Wu said: “The central government strongly values the development of MICE industries in South Taiwan. Kaohsiung Exhibition Center is the milestone for balancing
the development between South and North Taiwan.
“The MICE industry of Kaohsiung and other southern cities have progressed significantly. Major industrial clusters like metal working, cultural and creative, tourism, petrochemical, the yacht industry and the food industry, have become regional successes and played important roles in driving the local economy.”
The new centre is expected to bring over 800,000 visitors in 2014, making NT$3bn in revenue for related industries.
In 2015, the state’s MICE leaders hope Kaohsiung Exhibition Center will attract more than one million visitors and create 2,000 jobs.
City mayor Chen said: “Kaohsiung city government has put great effort in constructing KEC. It will bring in more business opportunities and increase Kaohsiung’s international presence.”
Cochrane, regional manager in Asia for UFI, pointed out that Taiwan ranked number six in Asia for exhibitions.
“The MICE industry needs investment in key components of infrastructure and that is no small commitment,” he said. “This well-designed venue will become a centre of growth and will serve to enhance and expand the economic strength of Kaohsiung.”
KEC is operated by Uniplan Group under a 12.5-year management contract.
Large-scale events booked at KEC include the 2014 Taiwan International Fastener Show, the Taiwan International Boat Show, 2014 Taiwan Digestive Disease Week (TDDW), and a Rotary Club Annual Meeting.
This was first published in issue 76 of CMW. Any comments? Email Annie Byrne
