Brand Italy will be represented in large numbers at the annual FOODEX Japan fair, the most important agro-food event in Asia running in Tokyo from 6 to 9 March 2018.
«Italy disposes of the largest exhibition area of the Fair: 2200 m² and vaunts the participation of the more than 170 companies from 16 Regions. This large presence testifies to the variety, wealth and innovativeness of Italy’s production, the great competitiveness of our offer of agro-food products and the tangible commitment of institutions and companies, all determined to work in team in a very sophisticated but equally promising market like that of Japan, » said the Italian Ambassador in Tokyo, Giorgio Starace.
He went on: «The Italy-Japan commercial partnership continues to consolidate in a context in which both our economies are experiencing a cycle of economic recovery and expansion. In 2017 alone, the value of Japanese imports of Italian products rose 21.6%: a significant result which was confirmed in January 2018 (+38%)».
«In this context, let me specify the rise in the value of Japanese imports of all the major classes of Italian agro-food products in 2017: drinks, alcoholic drinks and vinegar (+9.74%); vegetables and fruit (+3.71%); bakery and pastry products (+6.44%); fresh and processed meats (+8.17%)».
«Our economic diplomacy therefore intends to go on assertively supporting companies. Firstly, by guaranteeing a growing number of Italian products access to the Japanese market. Just recently, we have celebrated the introduction in Japan of Chianina beef with a big event in our Embassy. Last November, after a successful negotiation, we obtained green light to exporting processed meat products, including ‘bresaola’. In the future we also intend to focus on the fruit sector, whose potential is enormous. »
The Italian Embassy, in close cooperation with the Director of the Trade Promotion Section, Aristide Martellini, assures our companies utmost support to facilitate the promotion and maximization of the presence of our products on Japan’s large distribution circuits. To this end, Ambassador Starace organized an innovative event with B2B meetings on the fringes of the FOODEX, which will be attended by more than 100 representatives of Italian enterprises and 80 representatives of major Japanese groups in the food & beverage sector.
On 7 March, the Residence of the Italian Ambassador will host an important event to present CIBUS 2018 – 19th International Food Exhibition (Parma, 7-10 May 2018), with the presence of the CEO of Fiere di Parma, Antonio Cellie, and the President of the Young Entrepreneurs of Federalimentare Alessandro Squeri. The Exhibition will be attended by importers, distributors, caterers and representatives of the world of the media.
Also this year, to confirm our strategic and forward-looking commitment, Japan will be the focus of the integrated promotion campaign launched by the Foreign Ministry: the Week of Italian Cuisine in the World (in November), in addition to the many events scheduled in the autumn across Japan with the initiative “6000 years of Italian wine”.
