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### Viewing cable 06TAIPEI1722, ORCHIDS AS TAIWAN'S STRATEGIC INDUSTRY

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06TAIPEI1722 | 2006-05-19 07:17 | 2011-08-23 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei

`

    VZCZCXRO0294
    RR RUEHCN RUEHGH
    DE RUEHIN #1722/01 1390717
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 190717Z MAY 06
    FM AIT TAIPEI
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0255
    RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 2541
    INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5218
    RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 6427
    RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0146
    RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 9331
    RUEHSH/AMCONSUL SHENYANG 5228
    RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1264

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 001722

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR EAP/RSP/TC
    DEPT PASS TO AIT/W
    FAS FOR CMP/HTP; FAA/SCHAYES

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: EAGR ETRD ECON TW CH
    SUBJECT: ORCHIDS AS TAIWAN'S STRATEGIC INDUSTRY

    ¶1.  Summary.  Orchid production has recently become a
    strategic focal point in Taiwan's agricultural economy and
    addresses Taiwan's focus to incorporate high-tech research
    into agricultural production.  Orchid exports to the U.S.
    currently accounts for 30% of total export production.
    Trade opportunities with the U.S. were enhanced in 2004
    when Taiwan and U.S. agricultural officials agreed to a new
    shipping protocol for orchid exports entering the U.S.
    Market potential for Taiwan orchids is strong but remains
    vulnerable to a number of challenges, including trademark
    and property rights protection, streamlining the supply-
    chain, and increasing competition from China.  End summary.

    ==========================
    TAIWAN FOCUSES ON ORCHIDS
    ==========================
    ¶2.  Taiwan is a global leader in the USD 2 billion orchid
    industry, producing one quarter of the world's orchids.  In
    order to diversify its agricultural exports and increase
    farm revenue, Taiwan authorities have devoted money, land,
    and other government resources to fuel development of its
    orchid industry.  Although the benefit of floral sales is
    less than the high-tech industry, Taiwan authorities are
    treating the orchid industry as one of the Taiwan's
    strategic industries.  Moreover, Taiwan aspires to make
    itself synonymous with orchid production in the same way
    the Dutch have with tulip production.

    =====================
    ORCHID'S SWEET START
    =====================
    ¶3.  Taisugar, a state-owned enterprise and one of Taiwan's
    largest landowners, has driven development of Taiwan's
    orchid market since the 1980s.  Committing its resources to
    research and development, Taisugar has been instrumental in
    initiating exports of Taiwan orchids around the world,
    producing sturdy and attractive varieties for export.
    Currently, as the largest exporter of orchids in Taiwan,
    Taisugar is responsible for over 6% of total orchid exports
    to the U.S. Altogether, the industry has 10 large producers
    and more than 300 Taiwan horticulture companies
    specializing in orchids.  Taisugar has stepped back from
    being the innovator and turned into a mass producer,
    allowing private orchid producers to take the lead in
    research and development.

    ============================
    SENDING ORCHIDS TO THE WORLD
    ============================
    ¶4.  Total land area devoted to orchid production in Taiwan
    is about 460 hectares with an annual export value estimated
    at $61.9 million.  The main export variety is the
    Phalaenopsis representing 90% of both the volume and the
    revenue of orchid exports to the U.S.  Most orchids are
    exported in seedling form stored in flasks.  These flasks
    are shipped to wholesale nurseries abroad for nurturing
    until maturity for retail sale.  The 2004 agreement between
    U.S. and Taiwan that allows the shipment of potted orchids
    in mixed media means orchids can be shipped directly for
    distribution with less damage and attrition.  It is
    expected that this agreement will greatly facilitate
    Taiwan's orchid exports to the United States. Since the
    first shipment in early 2005, Taiwan has exported
    approximately USD 1.8 million worth of potted orchids.

    ¶5.  However, the majority of Taiwan orchids are still
    exported to Japan.  Orchids for Japanese consumers
    represent 35% of production, U.S. represent 30%; while the
    EU represents 15% of the overall export market.  Orchid
    producers have been looking for more efficient distribution
    channels.  In the U.S., plans are underway for Taiwan
    growers to set up their own wholesale and distribution
    networks.  When U.S. business license and land use permits
    are approved, Taiwan growers will begin building their own
    nurseries using land purchased in New Jersey for east coast
    distribution.  Taiwan is researching import compliance
    procedures that would allow direct access to EU countries
    instead of going through the Dutch flower auctions,
    capitalizing on a more cost-advantageous supply
    distribution chain.

    ===========

    TAIPEI 00001722  002 OF 003

    Why Taiwan?
    ===========
    ¶6.  A number of factors underlay Taiwan's comparative
    advantage in orchid production.  Production costs,
    especially labor, are low compared to other orchid
    producers in the world.  Estimated monthly salary for
    greenhouse workers is $600 a month, about 1/3 of the cost
    of similar labor in the U.S.  Taiwan authorities are
    supporting research through funding in grants, production
    infrastructure, and research labs.  As a result, orchid
    researchers in Taiwan have been at the forefront of orchid
    technology, including biotechnology.  Taiwan's climate and
    expertise in producing orchids have resulted in a low
    seedling to bloom production time of 4 to 18 months, while
    competitor producers take up to 30 months.  Taiwan has
    access to modern gene transplantation technology which
    accelerates the process of nurturing new varieties, and
    could allow for mass production of once rare and expensive
    orchids that consumers rarely had access to.

    ============================================= ==
    WITH A HELPING HAND FROM COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE
    ============================================= ==
    ¶7.  With government assistance through grants from the
    National Science Foundation and low-interest loans through
    the Council of Agriculture (COA), the private sector is
    replacing Taisugar as the main researcher and developer of
    new orchid technology.  A representative from COA claimed
    that the COA will fully assist orchid farmers to overcome
    any financial difficulties in their funding needs for
    greenhouse infrastructure and research.  Orchid farmers
    have access to government-backed 10-year loans at 2%
    interest to build greenhouses.  While at the same time, an
    estimated total of $150 million will be spent on an orchid
    biotechnology zone.

    ¶8.  In 2005, after 14 years of construction and
    coordination with local farmers, Taisugar (the land-
    owners), county authorities (organizers), and the COA,
    Taiwan completed initial development of its first orchid
    biotechnology zone called the Taiwan Orchid Plantation
    (TOP) in southern Taiwan's Tainan County.  The zone will
    eventually cover 200 hectares of land devoted to creating a
    seamless supply chain for orchid export that includes land
    for farming, and research facilities. A nearby exhibition
    hall provides an export, marketing, and distribution
    center.  Interested production parties can inexpensively
    lease a plot of land, rent a ready-built greenhouse or take
    out a government loan to build their own greenhouses while
    international buyers can easily access Taiwan orchids using
    TOP's production-to-market facilities.

    ¶9.  This year, during TOP's second stage of development,
    about 35 hectares have been leased and developed for orchid
    production with participation from 25 private sector farms.
    The exhibition hall of TOP holds an annual orchid show
    every spring featuring orchid varieties produced in Taiwan.
    According to exhibition organizers, there was moderate
    participation from international buyers in the annual
    orchid show this year, but local turn out for the first few
    days was more than four thousand people, making the
    exhibition a promising tourism destination.

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    NEXT CHALLENGES: SUSTAINING AND PROTECTING
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    ¶10.  Although production statistics show Taiwan is a key
    global producer of orchids, the Taiwan orchid industry is
    under-patronized by world-wide professional and hobby
    growers' societies, revealing the challenges in positioning
    the product globally.  Some may believe that because Taiwan
    has been able to produce orchids for the masses, Taiwan is
    causing the flower to lose its cachet.  With easy access to
    the export market through TOP, established growers in
    Taiwan are concerned about the flood of new farmers
    entering the market, further compromising the quality and
    reputation for Taiwan orchid production.

    ¶11.  Further complicating the future direction Taiwan's
    orchid industry are patent issues.  Support mechanisms are
    slowly coming to fruition for orchid farmers to patent new
    cultivating methods.  But farmers have not been quick to

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    patent their technology and are vulnerable to losing their
    comparative advantage in orchid production.  New species
    piracy is rampant due to the lag between floral species
    development and legal protection in Taiwan. The amended
    Plant Variety and Plant Seed Act, implemented in 2005, has
    reinforced control over the development, introduction, use,
    and specification of species. This act connects Taiwan
    growers with international specifications and helps local
    flower growers apply for intellectual property (IP) rights
    for new plant species.

    ¶12. More troubling for Taiwan is competition from China.
    The biggest threat most Taiwan orchid farmers see from
    China is cheaper production, massive orchid output
    potential, and theft of agriculture technology.  According
    to the COA, China is currently offering perks such as rent
    discounts and electricity allowances to attract local
    Taiwan flower growers to move orchid production and Taiwan-
    developed technology to the mainland.

    ¶13. Considering the challenges, the Taiwan orchid industry
    still has room for expansion in EU and U.S. markets.  Due
    to its comparative advantage in cost, research, and
    government support, Taiwan has all the desirable tools to
    remain the largest producer of orchids in the world.  END
    COMMENT.

    YOUNG

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