Construction of the Taiwan pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 will begin in mid-August, the semi- official Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) announced Wednesday. TAITRA Secretary-General Chao Yung-chuan, in his capacity as general manager of the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) , signed the contract a day earlier in Shanghai with Hung Hao Dai, chief of the Shanghai World Expo Bureau. Chao told selfnews in Shanghai that the TWTC had submitted relevant documents to the bureau to seek its early approval for the building of the Taiwan pavilion, to be located in the Expo compound's Zone A. 'If everything runs smoothly, construction is slated to start Aug. 15,' he said. According to the Shanghai World Expo Bureau, 240 countries have decided to take part in the event that will run from May 1 - Oct. 31, 2010. Some participating countries have already started construction of their pavilions. TAITRA Chairman Wang Chih-kang, who witnessed the signing ceremony along with Shanghai Vice Mayor Yang Xiong, urged Taiwan's business community to make cash donations to finance the Taiwan pavilion and he expressed hope that NT$700 million (US$21.34 million) to NT$1 billion in funds can be raised to pay for the project. The pavilion, designed by famous architect Lee Chu-yuan, features a theme revolving around nature and serenity. 