COLEAD engaged in trade fairs to facilitate market access & networking

COLEAD actively engaged in two international trade fairs this semester, with the valuable support of the FFM+ and AGRINFO programmes. These events provide an opportunity for professionals in the seafood, fruit and vegetable, and food and beverage sectors to establish connections, foster collaborations and explore new business prospects.

Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, the largest global seafood event, took place from 25 to 27 April in Barcelona, Spain. More than 34,000 seafood professionals attended this year’s edition – the largest ever held, in size and attendance, in the Expo’s history. Buyers and suppliers from around the globe took part in the three-day event for face-to-face networking and business opportunities. Fish and seafood are the most significant animal protein exported across international borders. Typically traded from developing to developed countries, they compensate for insufficient local production and fulfil demand for species not produced locally. COLEAD was present to meet with exhibitors and gain a deeper understanding of the constraints and challenges that exporters may face in getting their fish and seafood products onto the EU market. They also grew COLEAD’s network of contacts along the fish and seafood value chain and raised awareness of the AGRINFO programme as a valuable resource to understand and anticipate potential impacts of regulatory changes on the fish and seafood sector.

The 40^th edition of MACFRUT, the international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable industry, took place from 3 to 5 May in Rimini, Italy. The COLEAD team attended the event, engaging with exhibitors to gain first-hand insights into market trends. They also introduced the FFM+ programme and explored avenues for advancing the sector. The three-day exhibition at the Rimini Expo Center proved to be a tremendous success, attracting 49,700 visitors. This figure represents a 30% increase compared to MACFRUT 2022, with a 25% expansion in exhibition space and a notable 50% rise in international exhibitors.

AgroAlimentaria, is the leading trade platform for food and beverages in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean region. Colmar Serra, COLEAD’s representative in the Dominican Republic, recently attended the event held in Santo Domingo from 31st May to 3rd June 2023. During this event, he had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with leading figures from the public and private sectors in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean. These interactions fostered collaboration and the exchange of ideas for the sustainable growth of the agri-food sector in the region.

These events boast a wide range of exhibitors, captivating activities and enlightening seminars, making them highly informative and engaging for all attendees. Whether you are a producer, supplier, or buyer in the sector, we invite you to visit the respective event websites.

This activity is supported by the Fit for Market+ programme, implemented by COLEAD in the framework of the development cooperation between the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the European Union; and AGRINFO, a programme funded by the European Union and implemented by COLEAD.

This publication is supported with the financial support of the EU and the OACPS. Its contents are the sole responsibility of COLEAD and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the EU or the OACPS.