Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC) is all set to host the 20th edition of Food ingredients Asia 2015, Asia’s leading food ingredients exhibition, from September 9 to 11, 2015.
UBM Asia (Thailand), the organisers, are expecting over 25 per cent growth this year, targeting a 1,000 million baht turnover in the food industry and identifying rising food trends.
Manu Leopairote, chairman, UBM Asia (Thailand), states, “Fi Asia 2015 is Asia’s biggest event and is important to the food industry throughout the region. The event has been continuously recognised by leading food organisations. Consecutively held for 20 years, this year’s event is even more special than its previous counterparts, as it is the 20th event, and it comes to Thailand again after being held in Indonesia in 2014.”
He adds, “The space for the exhibition has been increased by 40 per cent. More than 650 exhibitors from 40 countries across the world are scheduled to join the exhibition, which is supported by many organisations, such as the ministry of industry, Food Processing Industry Club of the Federation of Thai Industries, National Food Institute, Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand, Thai Frozen Foods Association, and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau.
According to Leopairote, the show is an opportunity for entrepreneurs throughout the region to learn about new technologies from every corner of the world, and that the event will result in the development of the technology and the productive capacity of the food industry across the region. This key factor is significant in a way that it enables ASEAN to become the world’s food hub, as planned.
This year, the organisers have continuously promoted the event by organising road shows in Thailand’s neighbouring countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam. Moreover, visitors will enjoy a lot of activities that share knowledge of new innovations, and of appropriate marketing strategies and investments for SMEs and those who would like to invest in other food businesses.
Adding value to products
Dr Phawinee Chinnachote, president, Food Science and Technology Association of Thailand (FoSTAT), states that the technological capability of most Thai food enterprises does meet standards. However, with tough competition in the food market and rapidly changing trends, Thai entrepreneurs need to conduct research along with the development of food technologies, which are necessary for international competitions. Science and technology can help create new products with more value demanded by people around the world. New knowledge and technology can also help develop production processes, reduce costs and protect the environment. This year is a good opportunity for Thailand to host Asia’s biggest food ingredients exhibition and conference where Thai entrepreneurs can learn about new technologies from leading companies around the world.
Healthy food, a hot trend
Orawan Kaewprakaisangkul, VP, National Food Institute (NFI), states, “Since people’s lifestyles have changed and technology has become increasingly influential on their daily life, the behaviours and values of food consumption have changed accordingly. NFI sees that food businesses need to adjust themselves to consumer trends. In the future, people will still tend to focus on healthy food and more alternative choices of food.”
Healthy food is food that is fresh and prepared using the least artificial ingredients. A report on the world’s food market 2015 shows that consumers pay more attention to healthy food for their health and weight control. They focus on products with natural ingredients, high proteins, fewer sugars and complex carbohydrates, and reduced sweetness and saltiness. People also love food with good fat and food that is good for their digestive system. Moreover, they tend to like the same products with different presentations, new products with a combination of international and local food, local seasonal food, and vegetarian food, which follows a rising consumer trend for food without meat.
Asia-US markets expansion
Kaewprakaisangkul added that the Thai food industry this year was affected by the sluggish world economy, which was forcing consumers to limit their spending. The tumbling prices of agricultural products have not only caused farmers to earn less income and created negative impacts on the domestic food market, but also have resulted in less export revenue, keeping the food export outlook in 2015 close to that of 2014, which was valued at 900 billion baht. Over the first five months of 2015, most of Thailand’s food exports to its markets had shrunk, but some markets, such as the CLMV countries, China, and USA are still expanding.
CLMV Countries - Food exports to the CLMV countries over the first five months are valued at 42 billion baht, increasing by 6.1 per cent. Most products that have had excellent growth include sugar, vegetable oil, sauces, seasonings, beverages and snacks.
USA – Food exports to the US market are valued at 39 billion baht, growing by 1.8 per cent. Products with excellent growth in this market include canned pineapple, pineapple juice, rice, frozen fish and meat.
China – Food exports to the Chinese market are valued at 30.7 billion baht, increasing by 20.1 per cent. Products with excellent growth include cassava flour, sugar, fresh fruits and frozen shrimp.
ASEAN seafood hub
Dr Nantiya Unprasert, advisor, Thai Frozen Foods Association, reveals, “The ministry of agriculture and cooperatives has a policy to support and prepare Thailand to become an ASEAN Seafood Hub. With its constantly developing fishing industry, Thailand has exported fishery products for a long time, as its geographical advantages and fertile resources are perfect for fishing. The kingdom’s total export value of frozen shrimp, squid and tuna around the world accounts for more than 3 trillion baht, making these product categories among the country’s highest income-generating agricultural products.”
Unprasert adds, “Thai entrepreneurs are also so specialised in food processing that they are internationally recognised. In order to push Thailand to become an ASEAN Seafood Hub and increase its export volume, entrepreneurs need to acquire knowledge of food ingredients and food additives, as each importing country has different regulations. Therefore, they should strictly abide by those regulations and use them to create opportunities and satisfaction.”
Drawing investors to Thailand
Jaruwan Suwannasat, exhibitions and events director, TCEP, states, “Over the time that TCEP has supported Food ingredients Asia 2015, we focussed on expanding regional cooperation and improving international exhibitions in Thailand, following the increasing consumption in the ASEAN region, which has a combined population of 600 million people. Thailand is also recognised as an ASEAN economic hub and a leader at Asia’s food ingredients exhibitions. In addition, TECP has provided support for marketing activities in order to encourage potential investors around the world to choose FI Asia 2015 to be in the ASEAN Rising Tradeshow project. We would like to encourage organisers to run new and different marketing activities abroad to attract foreign investors, mainly from the ASEAN+6 countries. TCEP has also supported ‘Connect Businesses,’ a marketing campaign to draw trade visitors from the federations of the chambers of commerce to join the event as well as a business matching programme for the exploration of more business opportunities for Thai and international enterprises.”
Furthermore, TCEP has initiated a marketing activity named, ‘Be My Guest’ to attract buyers from around the world. In 2013, the number of foreign visitors increased by 32 per cent. Suwannasat hopes, “We expect over 15,000 foreign visitors this year. As international exhibitions are an important platform for the MICE industry in that they generate a huge amount of money for the country, TCEP expects that its effort to promote the MICE industry in 2015 will attract 1,036,300 visitors, generating 106,780 million baht for the Thai economy.
