Taipei City Honors 43 Brands as Official Cultural Ambassadors
During the press conference, Ms. Chen, Chief Secretary of the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs, and Mr. Huang, Deputy Executive Director of the Taipei City Cultural Foundation, presented honorary trophies to the 43 selected “Taipei Cultural Creative Delegates.” These awards symbolize each brand’s role in advancing cultural exchange and international promotion—representing Taipei’s creative spirit on the global stage.
The trophy design incorporates the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park logo and the iconic boiler room chimney, symbolizing brands rising and evolving from the foundation of Songshan. Crafted from reclaimed stone slabs from the park and paired with vibrant red-orange fiberboard that echoes the chimney’s fireproof bricks, the design embodies both sustainability and passion. The tote packaging, developed in partnership with PackAge+, employs a circular packaging system, reinforcing ESG and sustainability principles. Together, the award and its presentation highlight environmental responsibility and innovation, celebrating a shared mission to elevate Taiwan’s cultural and creative industries.
Chief Secretary Ms. Chen emphasized that cultural creativity is at the heart of urban competitiveness and a key language for Taiwan’s engagement with the world. “Taipei has long promoted cultural and creative industry development through a multifaceted approach—industry support, brand mentorship, and international channel integration,” Lee said. “This year’s expansion plan focuses not only on exhibitions and sales, but also on deepening cultural value communication and fostering cross-industry collaboration. Through pragmatic strategies and precise execution, we aim to help brands realize sustainable global operations.”
Three Strategic Pillars and Four Key Initiatives for Global Integration
In alignment with evolving consumer trends and market dynamics across Asia, the 2025 plan focuses on three strategic directions:
1. Empowering IP-driven brands — Promoting character licensing and cross-sector collaborations to expand the global circulation of creative content.
2. Strengthening physical retail networks — Supporting brands in building stable sales systems in mature markets to enhance conversion and resilience.
3. Expanding international learning programs — Providing brand owners with first-hand exposure to global creative ecosystems, enabling them to identify trends and explore new partnership opportunities.
To operationalize these strategies, the program introduces four key action plans:
• Trade showcases to validate market responses and engage directly with consumers.
• Business matchmaking with potential buyers, distributors, and regional agents.
• Market exploration and industry exchanges to deepen understanding of local creative and cultural environments.
• Overseas learning experiences to cultivate global vision and cultural translation capabilities among brand leaders.
Deepening Engagement in Three Major Asian Markets
In 2025, TAIPEI corners will expand across three strategic markets—Kuala Lumpur, Japan’s Kansai region, and Hong Kong—bridging creativity with commerce through exhibitions, product showcases, business networking, and field studies.
• Kuala Lumpur (April 29 – May 7):
The program’s first stop and debut participation in the KL Illustration Fair, highlighting IP illustration brands entering international markets. The showcase will feature character licensing and VR-powered interactive experiences, fostering local engagement and brand storytelling.
• Kansai, Japan (July 16 – 21):
The second stop extends to KIITO Kobe Design Creative Center, Umikado Kobe, Yurindo, and various retail outlets, building a multilayered sales network. This initiative aims to strengthen visibility and performance in one of Asia’s most mature and competitive creative markets.
• Hong Kong (September 25 – 30):
The final stop sets up pop-up retail spaces at Eslite Hong Kong branches, embedding Taiwan’s brands within the city’s cultural retail ecosystem and establishing direct touchpoints with consumers.
Dual Approach: Domestic Development and Global Expansion
Beyond international outreach, the Taipei City Department of Cultural Affairs continues to foster a dual-track strategy through the Taipei Cultural and Creative Industry Support Plan, combining domestic brand cultivation with overseas deployment.
The program provides brand diagnostics, business strategy consultation, market matchmaking, and funding assistance, while encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance adaptability and commercial thinking. Through a professional advisory mechanism, the initiative also supports brands in refining their market logic and brand language to align with international standards.
This year’s expansion marks not only a major step in the globalization of Taipei’s cultural and creative industries, but also a vivid demonstration of urban cultural diplomacy in action. Moving forward, the Taipei City Government will continue to integrate municipal resources with international platforms, helping more creators and brands enter global markets. By bringing creativity from Taipei into everyday life across cities worldwide, the program reaffirms Taipei’s vision of becoming Asia’s leading creative capital.