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20th World Orchid Conference, Chairman, Dr Kiat W Tan
(Photo courtesy of National Parks Board)
Q: What does this event mean for Singapore?
Traditionally, Singapore has a long-standing close association with orchids. For one, our national flower is an orchid hybrid Vanda Miss Joaquim. Singapore is also home to the renowned Singapore Botanic Gardens, famed for its research programmes in orchids and one of the oldest active orchid societies in the world. Throughout the years, we have welcomed many important guests including state dignitaries and people who have made significant contributions in their respective fields, and named our finest orchid hybrids after them.
Hosting the 20WOC reinforces Singapore’s reputation as a tropical City in a Garden, adding to the list of successful events such as the Singapore Garden Festival, Asia’s best Garden and Flower Show. Hosting the 20WOC in Singapore not only establishes us as a thriving centre for orchid floriculture, including our rich orchid heritage, but also presents an opportunity to showcase Singapore’s latest developments in the Marina Bay area, including Gardens by the Bay.
Orchids are also an ideal complement to Singapore’s city landscape, as many of them are epiphytes, which means that they are able to thrive in high-rise buildings and balconies, even with artificial light. 20WOC will showcase and highlight the beauty and diversity of tending orchids, be it in gardens or in flats.
Q: What does this event mean for you personally?
Living in a country with a rich orchid heritage and coming from a horticultural background, I hope that this event will enable more Singaporeans to cultivate a sense of appreciation for orchids, our rich orchid heritage and the contributions of orchids to many products and discoveries.
Q: It has been a while since the event was held in Singapore – what's changed in the industry over that time?
Hosting the 4th installment of WOC in 1963 proved to be a huge stimulus for Singapore’s post-war economy and for the local orchid industry. Since then, Singapore has evolved into an important international marketplace for orchids from both the east and west. Winning the bid to host this year’s WOC gives Singapore the opportunity to showcase her contributions to the orchid industry on an international platform.
Q: What can the public and visitors expect from the event?
There are three key components for the 20 th World Orchid Conference:
- The World Orchid Show features more than 75 stunning displays of orchid species and hybrids by exhibitors from 23 countries. There will be approximately 50,000 orchids on display and some 300,000 visitors are expected to be at the show. The displays at the World Orchid Show will be judged by 200 international orchid experts from 25 countries. Ticket holders to the show will also gain complimentary entry to preview the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay, the iconic waterfront gardens that will officially open in June 2012.
- The Conference encompasses lectures, workshops and seminars by orchid experts from various countries covering the latest trends, technologies, and scientific discoveries in the orchid world. To date, some 1,000 delegates from around the globe have registered for the conference.
- The Marketplace allows visitors to shop for the finest orchid plants, unique orchid-related products, and products with exquisite orchid-themed designs.
(Photo courtesy of the National Parks Board)
A new hybrid, Renanthera 20th WOC Singapore 2011 was also unveiled recently at the media conference in July. This exquisite red orchid signifies prosperity, wealth and success.
Engaging community activities have also been created leading up to 20WOC, touted as the “Olympics of Orchids”. These activities include a t-shirt competition, photography competition, art and craft competition and various floral arrangement workshops.
Visitors, delegates and orchid enthusiasts can also check out the 20WOC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/20WOC for more information. .
7. What do you love about orchids and why they are special.
Orchids fascinate me with their infinite variety, exotic beauty, and palpable essence of mystery and romance. The most genetically plastic of plant families, the Orchid was the source of inspiration for Charles Darwin’s research into the biological processes that resulted in his theory of evolution.
20WOC is jointly organized by the Orchid Society of Southeast Asia (OSSEA) and National Parks Board (NParks). The event organizer for 20WOC is MP International Pte Ltd.
