Trade show to highlight Phl seafood products

The Philippines is set to promote its premier seafood products to global buyers in this year’s International Food Exhibition(IFEX), the Department of Trade and Industry(DTI) said.

DTI’s Center for Trade Expositions and Mission (DTICITEM) said IFEX Philippines 2018 will stage its first special edition featuring “The Best of the Seas,” focusing on the fast-growing seafood market in the Philippine regions and other Asian countries.

“Now an annual event, IFEX Philippines continues to be the largest and widely anticipated food trade event in the country,” said Nora Terrado, DTI Undersecretary for Trade and Investments Promotion Group and CITEM Officer-in-Charge (OIC).

“For its 12th edition, we will highlight the Philippines’ finest seafood to satisfy the growing global demand for marine product and coastal cuisines, along with other exquisite food products across the globe”, Terrado added.

The food trade event will feature the country’s top and emerging food export companies, in a bid to promote Philippine food products and strengthen links with buyers, importers, and retailers in the global market.

In addition, an International Hall will also be put up to host the top seafood and non marine products of leading companies and manufacturers from other participating countries.

As part of its focus on seafood, IFEX Philippines 2018 will also stage the Regional Seafood Pavilion, a regional showcase of world class seafood products and ingredients locally sourced from the coasts and diverse marine environments across the Philippine archipelago.

“We are tapping the country’s most marine-abundant coastal regions from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This is where we will bring key suppliers to make it easier for buyers to source in one pavilion the best fish and marine products, such as tuna, milkfish, prawns, tilapia, and other seafood from the Philippines,” Terrado said.

The event will also feature the Coastal Culinary Cuisine segment, a dynamic presentation of the Philippines’ most iconic and distinct regional seafood cuisines from top international and local experts to give an exquisite experience of the country’s heirloom flavors and traditions.

Moreover, visitors may also buy premium food products ranging from seafood products, fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, processed foods, homemade regional delicacies at the marketplace portion of the event.

Nearly 11,000 international and local visitors, including 2,057 high-profile trade buyers from top global retail giants and supermarkets attended last year’s IFEX Philippines. Buyers came from different regions across the globe, such as Europe, China and SARs, Middle East, East Asia, America and Southeast Asia

The event was one of the official business events during the country’s hosting of ASEAN in 2017.