'Floriade 2012' gives Taiwan chance to bloom

Taiwan's pavilion won an international competition for indoor exhibits at the just-concluded Floriade 2012 World Horticultural Expo in Venlo, the Netherlands, the Council of Agriculture said yesterday.

During the exhibition season, which ran between April 5 and Oct. 7, signature Taiwan-grown flowers and plants, including Phalaenopsis, Oncidium, Paphiopedilum and Cymbidium orchids, lucky bamboos, flamingo lilies and Malabar chestnuts, were put on display, the council said in a statement.

Taiwan's flower exports totaled US$175.9 million in 2011, up 17.65 percent from the previous year, according to the council. Flower exports to Europe totaled US$35.32 million last year, a year-on-year increase of 50.88 percent.

The Floriade is held every 10 years in the Netherlands. This year's event was attended by more than 2 million visitors.