|
20th edition of Food ingredients Asia to unveil in Sept; expects 25% growth
|
|
Bangkok
August 31 , 2015
|
|
|
Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) is all set to
host the 20th edition of Food ingredients Asia 2015, Asia’s leading food
ingredients exhibition, from September 9 to 11, 2015.
UBM Asia
(Thailand), the organisers, are expecting over 25 per cent growth this
year, targeting a 1,000 million baht turnover in the food industry and
identifying rising food trends.
Manu Leopairote, chairman, UBM
Asia (Thailand), states, “Fi Asia 2015 is Asia’s biggest event and is
important to the food industry throughout the region. The event has been
continuously recognised by leading food organisations. Consecutively
held for 20 years, this year’s event is even more special than its
previous counterparts, as it is the 20th event, and it comes to Thailand
again after being held in Indonesia in 2014.”
He adds, “The
space for the exhibition has been increased by 40 per cent. More than
650 exhibitors from 40 countries across the world are scheduled to join
the exhibition, which is supported by many organisations, such as the
ministry of industry, Food Processing Industry Club of the Federation of
Thai Industries, National Food Institute, Food Science and Technology
Association of Thailand, Thai Frozen Foods Association, and Thailand
Convention and Exhibition Bureau.
According to Leopairote, the
show is an opportunity for entrepreneurs throughout the region to learn
about new technologies from every corner of the world, and that the
event will result in the development of the technology and the
productive capacity of the food industry across the region. This key
factor is significant in a way that it enables ASEAN to become the
world’s food hub, as planned.
This year, the organisers have
continuously promoted the event by organising road shows in Thailand’s
neighbouring countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the
Philippines and Vietnam. Moreover, visitors will enjoy a lot of
activities that share knowledge of new innovations, and of appropriate
marketing strategies and investments for SMEs and those who would like
to invest in other food businesses.
Adding value to products
Dr
Phawinee Chinnachote, president, Food Science and Technology
Association of Thailand (FoSTAT), states that the technological
capability of most Thai food enterprises does meet standards. However,
with tough competition in the food market and rapidly changing trends,
Thai entrepreneurs need to conduct research along with the development
of food technologies, which are necessary for international
competitions. Science and technology can help create new products with
more value demanded by people around the world. New knowledge and
technology can also help develop production processes, reduce costs and
protect the environment. This year is a good opportunity for Thailand to
host Asia’s biggest food ingredients exhibition and conference where
Thai entrepreneurs can learn about new technologies from leading
companies around the world.
Healthy food, a hot trend
Orawan
Kaewprakaisangkul, VP, National Food Institute (NFI), states, “Since
people’s lifestyles have changed and technology has become increasingly
influential on their daily life, the behaviours and values of food
consumption have changed accordingly. NFI sees that food businesses need
to adjust themselves to consumer trends. In the future, people will
still tend to focus on healthy food and more alternative choices of
food.”
Healthy food is food that is fresh and prepared using the
least artificial ingredients. A report on the world’s food market 2015
shows that consumers pay more attention to healthy food for their health
and weight control. They focus on products with natural ingredients,
high proteins, fewer sugars and complex carbohydrates, and reduced
sweetness and saltiness. People also love food with good fat and food
that is good for their digestive system. Moreover, they tend to like the
same products with different presentations, new products with a
combination of international and local food, local seasonal food, and
vegetarian food, which follows a rising consumer trend for food without
meat.
Asia-US markets expansion
Kaewprakaisangkul
added that the Thai food industry this year was affected by the sluggish
world economy, which was forcing consumers to limit their spending. The
tumbling prices of agricultural products have not only caused farmers
to earn less income and created negative impacts on the domestic food
market, but also have resulted in less export revenue, keeping the food
export outlook in 2015 close to that of 2014, which was valued at 900
billion baht. Over the first five months of 2015, most of Thailand’s
food exports to its markets had shrunk, but some markets, such as the
CLMV countries, China, and USA are still expanding.
CLMV
Countries - Food exports to the CLMV countries over the first five
months are valued at 42 billion baht, increasing by 6.1 per cent. Most
products that have had excellent growth include sugar, vegetable oil,
sauces, seasonings, beverages and snacks.
USA – Food exports to
the US market are valued at 39 billion baht, growing by 1.8 per cent.
Products with excellent growth in this market include canned pineapple,
pineapple juice, rice, frozen fish and meat.
China – Food
exports to the Chinese market are valued at 30.7 billion baht,
increasing by 20.1 per cent. Products with excellent growth include
cassava flour, sugar, fresh fruits and frozen shrimp.
ASEAN seafood hub
Dr
Nantiya Unprasert, advisor, Thai Frozen Foods Association, reveals,
“The ministry of agriculture and cooperatives has a policy to support
and prepare Thailand to become an ASEAN Seafood Hub. With its constantly
developing fishing industry, Thailand has exported fishery products for
a long time, as its geographical advantages and fertile resources are
perfect for fishing. The kingdom’s total export value of frozen shrimp,
squid and tuna around the world accounts for more than 3 trillion baht,
making these product categories among the country’s highest
income-generating agricultural products.”
Unprasert adds, “Thai
entrepreneurs are also so specialised in food processing that they are
internationally recognised. In order to push Thailand to become an ASEAN
Seafood Hub and increase its export volume, entrepreneurs need to
acquire knowledge of food ingredients and food additives, as each
importing country has different regulations. Therefore, they should
strictly abide by those regulations and use them to create opportunities
and satisfaction.”
Drawing investors to Thailand
Jaruwan
Suwannasat, exhibitions and events director, TCEP, states, “Over the
time that TCEP has supported Food ingredients Asia 2015, we focussed on
expanding regional cooperation and improving international exhibitions
in Thailand, following the increasing consumption in the ASEAN region,
which has a combined population of 600 million people. Thailand is also
recognised as an ASEAN economic hub and a leader at Asia’s food
ingredients exhibitions. In addition, TECP has provided support for
marketing activities in order to encourage potential investors around
the world to choose FI Asia 2015 to be in the ASEAN Rising Tradeshow
project. We would like to encourage organisers to run new and different
marketing activities abroad to attract foreign investors, mainly from
the ASEAN+6 countries. TCEP has also supported ‘Connect Businesses,’ a
marketing campaign to draw trade visitors from the federations of the
chambers of commerce to join the event as well as a business matching
programme for the exploration of more business opportunities for Thai
and international enterprises.”
Furthermore, TCEP has initiated a
marketing activity named, ‘Be My Guest’ to attract buyers from around
the world. In 2013, the number of foreign visitors increased by 32 per
cent. Suwannasat hopes, “We expect over 15,000 foreign visitors this
year. As international exhibitions are an important platform for the
MICE industry in that they generate a huge amount of money for the
country, TCEP expects that its effort to promote the MICE industry in
2015 will attract 1,036,300 visitors, generating 106,780 million baht
for the Thai economy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TOPICS
|
That foods might provide therapeutic benefits is clearly not a new concept. ...
|
|
|
|
|