Visitors to Asia's leading fresh produce trade fair are set to find a large increase in exhibitor numbers when the event opens in Hong Kong on 8 September.
More than 300 companies and organisations from Asia and the rest of the world have signed up to exhibit at this year's ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA, a year-on-year increase of well over 30 per cent.
'We have now sold every single stand space that we have available,' said Gérald Lamusse, managing director of GPE Global Produce Events GmbH, which organises the three-day fresh produce trade fair. 'We have 34 per cent more exhibitors this year and they come from some 30 different countries all over the world.'
ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA takes place on 8-10 September 2010 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, three years after the first event took place in 2007.
'This is great news for visitors and exhibitors alike,' said Mr Lamusse. 'Now at ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA there is even more opportunity to make new business contacts in Asia, still the world’s fastest growing market for fresh fruits and vegetables.'
More than 3,500 visitors are expected to attend the three-day trade fair, which takes place alongside Asiafruit Congress, Asia's leading business conference event for fresh produce professionals. Over 80 per cent of visitors to ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA are in leading management positions in their companies, with more than 90 per cent involved in purchasing and procurement.
Visitors can plan their meetings in advance through ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA's own Virtual Marketplace (VMP), an online tool available free through the official website for every visitor to use. VMP lists the products of all the exhibitors and allows visitors to contact exhibitors in advance.
'It’s a great way for you to organise your business meetings in advance,' said Mr Lamusse.
Market growth in Asia’s fresh produce sector is being driven by demand in China, the largest single exhibiting country again at ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA this year. Fresh fruit and vegetable imports into China have jumped by almost 1m tonnes in four years, climbing from 1.03m tonnes in 2006 to 1.91m tonnes in 2009, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics.
These and other key market statistics are published for the first time by Asiafruit Magazine in its new 'Asiafruit Congress 2010 Statistics Handbook', a country-by-country guide to Asia’s fresh fruit and vegetable business. Launched to coincide with this year’s Asiafruit Congress, the 56-page guide publishes for the first time ever comparative data for 13 major markets in Asia. It includes import and export data by volume and value from 2006-09 for China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.
'This data shows that the Asian market for fresh fruits and vegetables is growing fast,' said Asiafruit Magazine editor John Hey. 'Almost every market in Asia has enjoyed a marked increase in trade in the last few years.'
Asiafruit Congress, Asia’s leading fresh produce business conference, which has been held annually in Asia since 1997, features an exciting programme of business speakers and expert panelists as well as networking events and study tours organised exclusively for Asiafruit Congress delegates.
'This is a once-a-year opportunity for you to learn more about the many opportunities in the fresh fruit and vegetable market in Asia,' said Mr Hey, who edits the conference programme that runs every day before ASIA FRUIT LOGISTICA opens its doors.
This year’s Asiafruit Congress programme again looks at some of the leading issues for the Asian market. It includes 90-minute conference sessions on food safety, supply chain innovation in Asia, marketing to Muslim consumers, doing direct business in China, as well as an in-depth analysis of the Philippine market and a supplier spotlight on Chile.
A total of 20 speakers and expert panelists from 10 different countries are lined up to address the conference. Speakers include food retailers Karen Lee of Wellcome Supermarkets (Hong Kong) and Shams Haider of Rahimafrooz Superstores (Bangladesh), leading Asia-based operators Francisco X Lorenzo of Lapanday Foods Corporation (Philippines) and John Wang of Lantao (China), major suppliers Kelvin Bezuidenhoudt of Zespri International (New Zealand) and Ronald Bown of ASOEX (Chile), and market analysts Thomas Vadeboncoeur of Goodheart Resource (US) and Yongky Susilo of AC Nielsen International (Indonesia).
This year’s Asiafruit Congress is supported by a record 24 sponsors from all over the world. Gold Sponsors include Blue Whale (France), Del Monte (Hong Kong), IG International (India), Lantao Shanghai Great Harvest (China), Paramount Citrus (US), and The Fresh Connection (US).
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