City News
Date : 2026-05-08 Source : New Taipei City Government
New Taipei City Government Youth Department Drives Creative Exports: Showcasing International Competitiveness at Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair
New Taipei City’s creative energy made a powerful debut at the Kuala Lumpur Illustration Fair (KLIF), achieving remarkable success! Led by the New Taipei City Government Youth Department’s "2026 New Taipei Youth Creative Teams Overseas Exhibition Program," five featured creators—3CatsClub, Yemao, ririkoko, Miki Li Art, and fangtzu—showcased their work to an international audience. Most artworks sold out on the very first day, attracting tens of thousands of visitors. This success highlights the high receptivity of Malaysia’s multicultural society to cross-cultural content and validates the Bureau's strategic direction in bringing New Taipei’s creative brands to the global stage. During the fair, the delegation also met with local Malaysian creative organizations, effectively fostering bilateral exchange and laying a solid foundation for future international expansion.
Chiu Chao-mei, Director of the New Taipei City Government Youth Department, stated that the program's primary mission is to assist youth-led creative brands in expanding internationally. The Bureau provides full subsidies for overseas booth fees, professional consultancy, on-site translation, and local payment system support, allowing teams to focus on brand management and market growth. This year, the Bureau specially selected outstanding teams cultivated through previous programs. Through their diverse visual styles, these creators brought Taiwanese culture and life aesthetics into the Southeast Asian market, steadily building international brand visibility.
Successful Market Entry with Stellar Sales Records
Participating creator Miki Li Art noted that most works were sold out within the first two days, reflecting the Malaysian market's high enthusiasm for their style. Another creator, fangtzu, highlighted that the audience showed profound interest in the concepts behind the works; despite language differences, a strong connection was established through art, making this one of their most successful exhibitions to date. Due to the high demand, Miki Li Art added a live "Portrait Illustration" session on the final day, attracting a large crowd of fans and significantly strengthening brand engagement.
The Youth Bureau reported that the teams excelled in both sales and business networking. The three-day event drew over 10,000 visitors, with total sales reaching NT$250,000. More importantly, the teams connected with several potential agents and distributors from Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, establishing a base for future entry into Southeast Asian e-commerce platforms and physical select shops. The Bureau observed that Malaysia’s multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society provided a unique testing ground; New Taipei’s works—ranging from healing and humorous narratives to daily Taiwanese landscapes—successfully resonated with audiences of various cultural backgrounds, proving that New Taipei’s creative IP possesses strong cross-cultural competitiveness.
Engaging with International Art Organizations to Expand IP Opportunities
Beyond supporting the exhibition, the Youth Bureau engaged in deep discussions with KLIF curators and expert consultants regarding Southeast Asian market trends, consumer preferences, and business opportunities. These insights will enable the Bureau to more accurately tailor its "IP Export" support strategies for New Taipei’s youth brands.
The delegation also visited GMBB, the creative hub where the fair was held. GMBB is a "vertical art village" transformed from an office building, serving as a model for integrating art and commerce in Kuala Lumpur. During the visit, the Bureau explored the possibility of New Taipei creative teams entering the hub, aiming to help New Taipei’s original IPs penetrate the Malaysian mainstream market through long-term channel placement.
The Youth Bureau emphasized that connecting young creators with international fairs is only the beginning. The Bureau will continue to develop diverse international exchange channels and link cross-domain overseas resources to comprehensively enhance the global competitiveness of New Taipei’s creative youth, ensuring their influence continues to rise in the international community.
Chiu Chao-mei, Director of the New Taipei City Government Youth Department, stated that the program's primary mission is to assist youth-led creative brands in expanding internationally. The Bureau provides full subsidies for overseas booth fees, professional consultancy, on-site translation, and local payment system support, allowing teams to focus on brand management and market growth. This year, the Bureau specially selected outstanding teams cultivated through previous programs. Through their diverse visual styles, these creators brought Taiwanese culture and life aesthetics into the Southeast Asian market, steadily building international brand visibility.
Successful Market Entry with Stellar Sales Records
Participating creator Miki Li Art noted that most works were sold out within the first two days, reflecting the Malaysian market's high enthusiasm for their style. Another creator, fangtzu, highlighted that the audience showed profound interest in the concepts behind the works; despite language differences, a strong connection was established through art, making this one of their most successful exhibitions to date. Due to the high demand, Miki Li Art added a live "Portrait Illustration" session on the final day, attracting a large crowd of fans and significantly strengthening brand engagement.
The Youth Bureau reported that the teams excelled in both sales and business networking. The three-day event drew over 10,000 visitors, with total sales reaching NT$250,000. More importantly, the teams connected with several potential agents and distributors from Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, establishing a base for future entry into Southeast Asian e-commerce platforms and physical select shops. The Bureau observed that Malaysia’s multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society provided a unique testing ground; New Taipei’s works—ranging from healing and humorous narratives to daily Taiwanese landscapes—successfully resonated with audiences of various cultural backgrounds, proving that New Taipei’s creative IP possesses strong cross-cultural competitiveness.
Engaging with International Art Organizations to Expand IP Opportunities
Beyond supporting the exhibition, the Youth Bureau engaged in deep discussions with KLIF curators and expert consultants regarding Southeast Asian market trends, consumer preferences, and business opportunities. These insights will enable the Bureau to more accurately tailor its "IP Export" support strategies for New Taipei’s youth brands.
The delegation also visited GMBB, the creative hub where the fair was held. GMBB is a "vertical art village" transformed from an office building, serving as a model for integrating art and commerce in Kuala Lumpur. During the visit, the Bureau explored the possibility of New Taipei creative teams entering the hub, aiming to help New Taipei’s original IPs penetrate the Malaysian mainstream market through long-term channel placement.
The Youth Bureau emphasized that connecting young creators with international fairs is only the beginning. The Bureau will continue to develop diverse international exchange channels and link cross-domain overseas resources to comprehensively enhance the global competitiveness of New Taipei’s creative youth, ensuring their influence continues to rise in the international community.
