Kaohsiung Exports Agricultural Produce to Southeast Asia

SINGAPORE--(Marketwired - Dec 16, 2013) - As part of Kaohsiung City Government's efforts to promote local agriculture, the Taiwanese municipality has exported its first shipment of specialty fruits and vegetables to South East Asia, beginning with Singapore and Brunei.

Set to be the largest platform for safe vegetables and fruits in southern Taiwan, Kaohsiung aims to raise the global visibility of its agriculture produce with a strong international promotional campaign. The Kaohsiung City Government will be actively expanding the export market for its premium produce branded as "The Best of Kaohsiung," as well as actively participating in every international food exhibition.

To kick start this promotional campaign, Kaohsiung City Government organised its inaugural 2013 Kaohsiung City Agricultural Product Festival from 13 to 22 December 2013 in Singapore and Brunei.

Collaborating with GIANT Singapore, Kaohsiung City Government promotes and sells its produce at GIANT supermarkets and hypermarkets. It has also successfully launched its first fair at Tampines GIANT Hypermarket on 15 December 2013. This key launch showcases the freshest produce from Kaohsiung and features an authentic southern Taiwanese cultural performance.

Located in southern Taiwan, with a similar climate to Singapore, Kaohsiung's geography makes it uniquely poised to offer large quantities of premium tropical fruit. In addition, Kaohsiung Mayor Ms. Chen Chu makes safety a top priority, personally ensuring high quality, ethically produced and pesticide-free farm products.

These efforts make "The Best of Kaohsiung" synonymous with safe farm products and have helped the Taiwanese municipality achieve key agricultural milestones this year. Singapore and Brunei supermarkets have recently placed their first order for 3,500 cartons of prunes, guavas, bell fruits, dragon fruits, tomatoes, broccolis, white balsam pears and white radishes.

At the launch of the fair, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu expressed that Singapore and Kaohsiung are both warm and beautiful cities, which is why Singapore was chosen as the first stop of their launch in South East Asia. Kaohsiung agricultural products are of the highest quality and come with produce certificate; therefore, it is safety-assured. This is a promise from Kaohsiung to the people of Singapore. Kaohsiung jujube is the highlight of the fair. Not only is Kaohsiung jujube sweet and succulent but it also has an auspicious meaning of life and signifies fortune and joy, therefore making it a highly popular fruit in Taiwan. Today, jujube is specially introduced to Singaporeans.

In addition to top grade agricultural products, the fair also featured Electric-Techno Neon Gods -- San-Tai-Zi, an energetic dance that combines traditional Taiwanese temple culture with modern electronic music. A symbol of Tai-Ke culture, and an expression of the passion and energy of Southern Taiwan, Electric-Techno Neon Gods -- San-Tai-Zi has earned worldwide acclaim since its performance at the 2009 Kaohsiung World Games. Following the press launch, Mayor Chen Chu invited Dairy Farm Singapore (Food) CEO Mr. Victor Chia as well as other VIPs to join in the dance with San Tai Zi, giving Singaporeans a taste of the energy and warmth of Kaohsiung.