The Tainan Pavilion opened on the first day of the 2026 International Food & Drink Event (IFE) held from March 30 to April 1 in London. Tainan Mayor Huang Wei-che led a delegation of outstanding Tainan-based businesses and industry representatives to showcase the city’s premium agricultural and fishery products to buyers and distributors from all over the world. Representative Vincent Chin-Hsiang Yao of the Taipei Representative Office in the U.K., Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire Dame Andrea Jenkyns, President Evelyn Lee of the European Federation of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce (ETCC), President Shane Day of the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in the UK (UKTCC), Director Ares Chen of the Taiwan Trade Centre in London, attended the event among other guests.
Mayor Huang noted that this marks Tainan City’s first participation in the UK’s International Food & Drink Event, an opportunity that will significantly enhance the visibility of Tainan’s brands in the British markets. He expressed strong confidence in the participating operators. In response to the European market’s healthy and organic food trends, the Tainan delegation focused mainly on fruits, processed fruit products, and aquatic products, which are easy to preserve and transport.
Businesses from Tainan will engage directly with British distributors to gain insights into local market demands. The Mayor also looks forward to boosting Tainan’s food and tourism industry through the food exhibition and deepening interactions with the UK.
Representative Yao remarked that the UK’s interest in Taiwanese products continues to grow, noting that the number of Taiwanese companies and organizations at this exhibition has increased since Taiwan’s first participation last year. As one of Taiwan’s major centers for high-quality produce, Tainan’s involvement further promotes collaboration and exchange between the food industries of Taiwan and the UK.
Mayor Jenkyns, who recently visited Tainan, shared her admiration for the city’s technological advancements and smart city development, as well as her appreciation for Tainan’s signature pineapples. She stated that Greater Lincolnshire, rich in agricultural biotechnology potential, also sent representatives to this year’s IFE and expressed enthusiasm for expanding cooperation between the two regions.
Participating in the British International Food & Drink Event (IFE) marks a significant milestone in marketing Tainan’s agricultural specialties overseas. During the event, Mayor Huang also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between Fisherman’s Hometown International Co. Ltd. and British trading partners, paving the way for Tainan’s agricultural and fishery products to reach consumers worldwide through the UK market.