The opening ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Taiwan Exhibitions of the “2017 Tokyo International Food Festival” commenced on the 7th of March, 10 am. The Agriculture Commission Chairman Lin Conxian, Representative in Japan Hsieh Zhangting, Deputy Director of the International Trade Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Xu Dawei and 8 Taiwan Exhibitors’ City/County leaders; Yunlin County Deputy Magistrate Ding Yanzhe, Deputy Mayor of New Taipei City Ye Huiqing, Taichung Mayor Lin Chia-Lung, Chiayi County Magistrate Chang Hwa-Kuan, Chiayi City Mayor Tu Xingzhe, Tainan City Deputy Mayor Zhang Zhengyuan, Kaohsiung Majoy Chen Chu, Pingtung Magistrate Pan Men-An, and Taiwan Trade Association Chairman Huang Zhifang along with other guests were all present to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Taiwan’s specialty mascot put on a performance to attract people at the exhibition. Representative in Japan, Hsieh Zhangting expressed that Taiwan was voted as the top travel location Japanese people most wanted to visit in The Japan Times’ Premium Friday Polls. Taiwan not only shows great kindness to tourists, there are also fantastic food that also attracts everyone to visit.
Taiwan Trade Association Chairman Huang Zhifang said that this year, Taiwan had 8 counties and cities participate in the exhibition and more than 10 public associations, a total of 129 exhibitors. The biggest participation to the exhibition compared to previous years.
Yunlin County Deputy Magistrate Ding Yanzhe said that, Yunlin County is a large agricultural county in Taiwan. The county’s agricultural and livestock products yield the highest in Taiwan, and has a rich and traditional characteristic of agricultural culture. Recognized as the largest agricultural county in Taiwan, Yunlin is surrounded by marvelous mountains and stunning seas, along with vast production plains allowing the county to nurture fresh, high quality, safe agricultural and livestock products. Thus became renowned as the Asian Green Kitchen both nationally and internationally, as a center that provides safe healthy food. This year will be the 7th time Yunlin County has participated in the Tokyo International Food Festival. Ever since the first visit in 2009, Exhibitors from Yunlin County has maintained close interactions with Japanese traders, propelling Yunlin’s high-quality exports to grow. Notably, the Yunlin productions of carrots and lettuce have managed to maintain a stable and sustainable relationship with Japanese manufacturers for many years.
This year, there were a total of 11 exhibitors from Yunlin County participating at the Tokyo International Food Festival; Xinhu Cooperative Farm, Dongshi Fruit and Vegetable Cooperative Productions, Qiongpu Cooperative Farm, Yu Feng Aquaculture Companies, Yunlin Gukeng Coffee, Rih-Sin Products, Zheng Chun Food Co Ltd., Shang-Feng Technology, Leadray Livestock, Yuan Jin Chuang, and Soubei Biotechnology Company. The county introduced a large diversity of quality Yunlin agricultural products, including lettuce, carrots, mullet roes (which are very popular with Japanese people), sweet potatoes, coffee, and livestock and okra products.
Representative in Japan, Hsieh Zhangting and the Agriculture Commission Chairman Lin Conxian specially visited all the exhibitors to warmly welcome their participation and to show their support. The manufacturers from Yunlin continue to develop new products in order to exhibit new products every year and surprise the Japanese market. By attending this international exhibition, the best products can be introduced to Japan and further promoted internationally, creating many economic opportunities for Taiwan.