Taipei, Sept. 26 (CNA) A one-and-a-half-day forum on developing Taiwan's Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition (MICE) industry opened in Taipei Wednesday as international delegates shared their experiences with local experts from government, industry and academia.
More than 800 participants attended the Asian MICE Leaders Forum (AMLF) , which is intended to serve as a platform for participants from 11 countries and regions to exchange their ideas, said Y.C. Chao, President and CEO of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the event's organizer.
The forum started Wednesday with a panel discussion on "international exhibition branding and joint ventures", the first of four panel discussions of the forum. Topics of "destination marketing, " "IT application" and "cross-Taiwan Strait exhibition/venue cooperation and development" will be discussed Thursday.
The structures of these industries have been transformed gradually over the years, said Minister of Economic Affairs (MOEA) Chen Ruey-long in his opening remarks.
To enhance the competitiveness of Taiwan's MICE industry in Asia, the Executive Yuan included MICE as one of twelve vital service businesses to be actively developed, with the objective of upgrading Taiwan's position in the international MICE industry and further expanding its global market, Chen said.
UFI President Jochen Witt delivered a keynote speech titled "Today's Global Trade Fair Industry" to kick off the forum. UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry) is the world's leading exhibition industry association, representing 442 member organizations.