The government will throw its full support behind the orchid industry with the goal of developing Taiwan into a hub for orchid production and a world-class 'island of flowers,' Vice President Vincent Siew said Friday. Addressing the opening of the 2010 Taiwan International Orchid Show (TIOS) in Tainan County, southern Taiwan, Siew noted that Taiwan's orchid exports maintained strong growth in 2009 despite a sluggish overall export trade, which signifies the industry's great potential. Tainan Magistrate Su Huan-jhih noted that TIOS has now entered its sixth year and that the scale of this year's exhibition is the largest ever -- featuring a total exhibition area of 6,100 pings (20,130 square meters) and 100 foreign exhibitors. In addition to holding various orchid competitions, the show also provides exhibition zones for commercial species and patented species, he said. According to the magistrate, TIOS brought NT$3.6 billion (US$112.75 million) -worth of export orders to the orchid industry in 2009, up 50 percent from the previous year. Orders for this year are expected to further increase, he added. Wang Chih-kang, chairman of the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) , pointed out that despite the global economic downturn, Taiwan's orchid exports managed to post a 7.3 percent growth. TAITRA has invited buyers from 10 countries and 37 Taiwanese exporters to take part in this year's show, and has arranged 175 one-on-one sessions between the two sides, Wang said. 