International food trade fair in Hyderabad
Friday, 10 December 2004, 20:30 IST
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HYDERABAD: More than 80 companies from India and abroad are participating in the World of Food India, a four-day international trade fair that began here Friday. Thirty-one companies from India and 50 from nine other countries, including Germany, Italy, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, are displaying their food products at the fair. It is being held over 3,500 sq m at Hitex, an exhibition centre at Madhapur on the city's outskirts. The products on display include fresh fruits and vegetables, processed food, confectionary items, bakery items, health foods, gourmet food, sea food, poultry and meat products, frozen food, milk and dairy products, beverages and drinks. Frozen cakes from THOKS, Germany to chocolates from Aalst Chocolate Pte Limited, Singapore, a variety of items are on display at the fair, which is expected to attract visitors from the food industry, chefs from top hotels, food importers, food retail chains and supermarkets. A majority of the foreign firms are in India for the first time. Twenty-five companies are participating from Germany alone. "Since (the) Indian food market is growing rapidly, many German companies are keen to introduce their products here," said Elke Nobis of the CMA Central Marketing Organisation of German Agricultural Industries. "They have come for the first time to get in touch with people in the Indian market." Nobis pointed out that Germany was among the world's top three food exporters. Last year, the country's food exports were $40 billion. The exhibition has been organised by Cidex Trade Fairs, a joint venture of German firms Messe Dusseldof and Kolnmesse International Said Matthias Winter, managing director of CIDEX: "This is the first international show organised in India to provide a platform for suppliers and buyers. "Many companies from abroad will have an exposure to the Indian food market." In September, Cidex had organised the International FoodTec India 2004 where 100 companies from India and abroad had showcased latest food processing and packaging technologies. Stefen Stiebling, managing director of THOKS, said: "We introduced our cake items in Dubai last year and the response was encouraging from Indians living there. So we decided to participate in this fair and make an attempt to enter the Indian market." Richard Lee, president and CEO of Aaist Chocolate Pte Limited, said he hoped for a good response from Indian supermarkets and retail chains. "We are keen to enter Indian market with different colour chips (chocolates). We recently introduced our products in American and European markets and the response was tremendous." Singapore's Fraser and Neave Limited is also targeting the India market for products like carbonated drinks and ready-to-drink coffee. "We hope to enter the Indian market in a big way," said Raphael Tham, manager of corporate planning and business development at Fraser and Neave. The company was negotiating with the Bangalore-based Intec Investment for a tie-up for local manufacturing of its carbonated drinks.
Source: IANS
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