Fruit Logistica made its way to Asia for its first ever trade show in the Far East, in Bangkok, last week.
The three-day show hosted more than 100 exhibitors from Asia and around the world.
Thai minister of agriculture and co-operatives Thira Sutabutra opened the event.
He said: “We are honoured that Thailand has been chosen to host the first Asia Fruit Logistica, thanks to its abundance of tropical fruits and vegetables, or can I say - Thailand; a fruit and vegetable heaven.
“I have no doubt Thailand can definitely be an invaluable strategic partner in the multi-national fresh produce trade, as it has a year-round supply of products and is undoubtedly a heaven of tropical fruit and vegetables.”
Sutabutra said Thailand stands as a key regional market in Asia, with fresh produce production for local and export markets already in a strong position. He listed bananas, watermelon, papaya, pineapple, pomelo, and mangosteen, as just some of the Thai products available 52 weeks of the year, as well as seasonal lines, including mango, lychees, and rambutan.
Sutabutra predicted that Asia Fruit Logistica would give Thai fresh produce players an insight into developments in Asian market trends.
“The concept of this specialist trade exhibition for fresh fruit and vegetable marketing in Asia, which caters for the clear demand in this region, is in line with the ministry of agriculture and co-operative’s policies, which are designed to enhance Thailand’s production efficiency and the value added from the production process, as well as increase the competitive competency level, and strengthen root economics,” Sutabatra added.
The trade fair, which kicked off on Wednesday, sold out of exhibition space.
National pavilions from Thailand, Japan, and Taiwan housed a multitude of individual companies, alongside representatives from China, the Philippines, Indonesia, South Korea, and Sri Lanka.
Suppliers of fresh produce to Asia from the rest of the world were also present, with representatives from Australia, Argentina and France, and well-known names from the US, New Zealand and South Africa.
Europe was also well represented, with exhibitors from the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Greece and Germany, there to target the Asian market.
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