Life

TAITRA cooks up food promotion campaign

TAITRA kicks off Taste of Taiwan Cuisine May 31 with a demonstration of Taiwan’s signature local snacks including steamed buns and spring rolls. (Staff photo/Chen Mei-ling)

• Publication Date：06/01/2012
• Source： Taiwan Today
• By  Kwangyin Liu

Taste of Taiwan Cuisine, a month-long initiative promoting gourmet food, will whet international appetites for the island’s mouthwatering dishes, according to the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) May 31.

“The month of June marks Taiwan’s peak season for international trade shows,” said TAITRA Executive Vice President Walter Yeh at a Taipei City news conference. The council has created a website for visitors featuring introductions to a variety of gastronomic delights, he added.

According to Yeh, over 400,000 exhibitors and buyers are expected to visit Taiwan’s capital city for business opportunities. Upcoming highlights include Computex Taipei June 5 to 9, Taiwan International Medical and Healthcare Exhibition June 14 to 17 and the International Flat Panel Display Exposition June 19 to 21.

Those attending the June trade shows will be given “gourmet passports” and coupons to be used across the island. They can also vote for their favorite eating places online or with a smartphone application, organizers said, adding that winners will be announced during the Taipei International Food Show running June 27-30.

“Taiwan is ready to welcome international guests with a hearty selection ranging from authentically local street eats to exotic cuisines and gourmet restaurants,” they added.

According to Chiang Hui-fang, an official with the Bureau of Foreign Trade, other sectors such as tourism, cultural creative businesses and the exhibition industry can also benefit from the promotion of gourmet food culture.

“Food-related service industries account for one-third of Taiwan’s chain stores and franchises,” she noted.

This marks the seventh consecutive year for TAITRA to host a food campaign in June, organizers said. (THN)

Write to Kwangyin Liu at kyliu01@mofa.gov.tw