Bồ Xuân Hiệp

BANGKOK — Asia’s leading food and beverage trade show THAIFEX-World of Food Asia 2018 will return in its 15th edition as the largest satellite show of Anuga, the world’s foremost food and beverage (F&B) exhibition for the Asian market.

The trade show, to be held from May 29 to June 2 in Bangkok, will feature an international line-up of exhibitors, including as many as 60 from Việt Nam.

The gateway to ASEAN’s F&B industry, the trade show is strategically positioned to penetrate the ASEAN region, which is expected to grow 5.1 per cent this year and is projected to rank as the fourth largest economy by 2050, according to the show’s organisers. 

Speaking at a press conference held yesterday in Bangkok, Nuntawan Sakuntanaga, permanent secretary of the Thai Ministry of Commerce, said the food industry is one of the major sectors instrumental in driving Thailand’s economy.

Last year, food exports generated income of more than US$26 billion for the country, employing more than 10 million workers in the agriculture and fishery sectors, she said.

Thailand is looking to enhance trade partnerships, including foreign investment in the agricultural and food sectors as well as other support industries, she added.

“The ultimate goal is to encourage a more efficient and sustainable global value chain that benefits all,” she said. “The benefit of this joint effort is not just about Thailand. It is about the world of food, providing fresh opportunities for buyers, suppliers, exhibitors and consumers around the world.”

Five days of the event will be dedicated for trade visitors, up from three last year. Around 60,000 visitors from around the world, a rise of 10 per cent over last year, are expected this year.

An expanded and improved hosted buyer programme will also facilitate trade and commerce for over 3,000 buyers.

This is the largest contingent of buyers hosted at an F&B trade show as a result of a partnership between the private and public sector organisers of the show.

Key hosted buyers include Capital Retail Limited (Myanmar), Indoguna (Cambodia), Kaimay Trading (Singapore), PANDURASA KHARISMA (Indonesia), PHDeli (Philippines), and Premium Distribution (Myanmar).

Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade, said the trade show boosts the competitiveness of Thailand by “bringing global and local players onto a single platform and showcasing their world-class products and services in F&B.”

The trade show is expected to play host to more than 2,500 exhibitors from 40 countries and regions. It will showcase 11 masterfully crafted trade shows across all 11 mega halls, an increase from nine halls previously.

This year’s event also welcomes Argentina as the official partner country, and more than 40 country and provincial pavilions, including new exhibitor groups from Belgium and Sicily, Italy.

Continuing the positive partnership, the Innova Market Insights will return as the official knowledge partner to THAIFEX-World of Food Asia.

Making a debut this year is the ‘THAIFEXtaste Innovation Show’, where in-depth analysis on the opportunities and challenges driving the F&B landscape will be showcased alongside top consumer trends around packaging, technology and flavours that are taking product development forward in 2018.

Three other special shows include the Halal, Organic and Franchise markets.

The trade show this year continues to host two highly anticipated public events, the Celebrity Coffee Bar and the Thailand Ultimate Chef Challenge.

As many as 50 Vietnamese F&B enterprises, double the number that took part in 2016, displayed and promoted their products at the event in Bangkok last year.

Leading Vietnamese F&B businesses, including Việt Nam Dairy Products Joint-Stock Company (Vinamilk), Dan On Foods, Rita Food & Drinks Co Ltd, and Minh Phong Green & Agricultural Products JSC, have participated in the show for the last six years.

This year, the Vietnamese High Quality Product Business Association will be taking part in the trade show for the first time.

Việt Nam’s food service industry was worth $20.9 million in 2016 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 8.4 per cent in the next five years, according to the organisers.

The exhibition is co-hosted by Koelnmesse, a food and food-technology event organiser, along with the Thai Department of International Trade Promotion and the Thai Chamber of Commerce. — VNS