Thai exporters see Fruit Logistica as 'the ideal place to meet all our customers', according to the Asia Exotic Corporation's Boonmee Wongshotisatit.

Established in 1983, the company is a Fruit Logistica regular and is looking to open up new markets in Eastern Europe.

Suwanchai Chavanchankij, from Thai exporter Siam Jumbo, was in Berlin for the second time and said the trade fair is also a great place to find out about the latest trends in the sector.

'Fruit Logistica is superb and extremely useful for us,' Mr Chavanchankij said.

Japanese manufacturer Fuji Packaging's packing machines have been established in Europe for three decades now, but the company has only recently ventured into the fresh produce market.

Now, following its continued success in the Netherlands, the company decided the time was right to exhibit at Fruit Logistica for the first time.

Two packaging machines for sweet peppers and chicory were on display at the fair, capable of packing up to 110 units per minute.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has become part of the Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO), with one Indonesian company represented at the SIPPO stand at this year's Fruit Logistica, along with eight from Macedonia and four from the Ukraine.

'SIPPO is a Swiss Import Promotion Programme for small and medium enterprises from emerging markets, helping them prepare their market image and supporting them for three years in Europe,' explained project director Constantin Kostyal.

'All of these countries have tremendous potential for agriculture with good water, soil and climate and with their strong knowledge of agriculture,' said Mr Kostyal.

Products range from peppers, cherry tomatoes and lettuce from Macedonia, to honeydew melons, seedless watermelons and sweet cherries from the Ukraine, to mangos, mangosteen and ginger from Indonesia.

'The main objective for us and the exhibitors is to strengthen our existing trade partnerships and to find new partners.'

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