TAIWAN HORTICULTURE EXPORTS SET TO TOP $US100MLN IN 2008.

TAIPEI, Nov 1 Asia Pulse - President Chen Shui-bian gave the thumbs-up to Taiwan's horticultural industry Wednesday, saying that with techniques continuing to advance, flower exports are expected to top US$100 million next year.

Addressing the opening of the 2007 Taipei International Flower Exhibition at the Taipei World Trade Center, Chen said that in order to increase horticulturists' incomes, his administration has in recent years pushed to improve growing techniques and plant hybrids.

The government has helped establish the Taiwan Orchid Plantation in Tainan, southern Taiwan, which has pushed Taiwan's status as the "kingdom of the butterfly orchid" even higher in the world, Chen claimed.

Meanwhile, the administration put forward in 2004 a statute governing plant species and seed and seedling development to better protect the rights of horticulturists, Chen said.

He added that Taiwan has also consulted advanced countries in a bid to allow Taiwanese plant and flower breeders to have species they have developed registered for patent rights.

To date, many countries, including the European Union, the United States, Australia and Japan, have allowed patent right applications and registration by Taiwanese breeders.

Chen said he hopes the administration will also help ...