Gourmet
Heaven
From Hyderabad to Cologne
The
second International FoodTec India was held from February 1-4, 2003
in the Hitex Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad. Organised by Koelnmesse International,
Cidex Trade Fairs and the Confederation of Food Trade and Industry (CIFTI)
the fair had participation from 80 exhibitors, including 15 companies
from abroad.
Inaugurated
by NT Shanmugam, Union Minister of State for the Food Processing Industry,
the show, besides providing a forum to the industry, also showcased
new processing methods, packaging technologies, food ingredients, beverage
technologies, and refrigeration and cooling technologies. With the concept
of global sourcing becoming the ‘mantra’ of the international food markets
today, it was a perfect platform for the industry to meet and witness
the movements and trends gripping the food processing sector.
Coinciding
with this exhibition, CIFTI organised a series of workshops focusing
on the food industry. Among other relevant subjects, these workshops
also focussed on the state’s contribution to the industry and progress
of research institutions in the sector.
Besides
exhibitors and visitors, the guests’ included Pratibha Karan, Secretary
– Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Dirk van der Coelen, Chairman-Cidex
and Nobert Schimidt, MD Koelnmesse International.
In
April 2003, Koelnmesse will host the Anuga FoodTec in Cologne and Mr
Coelen extended his invitation to Mr Shanmugam and other guests present
at the Hyderabad fair. The Anuga FoodTec technology fair will be presenting
food technology for the third time from April 8-11, 2003. The fair jointly
organised by Koelnmesse and the German Agricultural Society, covers
all aspects of processing, packaging, hygiene, storage and logistics
within the food industry. The last Anuga fair held in the spring of
2000 witnessed participation from 36,000 experts from 111 countries.
About 50 per cent visitors were from abroad, and India accounted for
126 experts.
For
the promotion of the Anuga fair the Indo German Chamber of Commerce
along with Koelnmesse held a press conference in Mumbai. Addressing
the small gathering, comprising mainly the press and the potential visitors
to the Anuga fair, the member of the Executive Board of Koelnmesse,
Wolfgang Kranz said, “FoodTec India is only for the Indian market, but
to companies who want to improve business internationally, we offer
Anuga FoodTec.” He said that the importance and popularity of Anuga
FoodTec 2003 was borne out by the fact that the fair has witnessed a
rise in terms of exhibition space by 18 per cent from 78,000 sq metres
to 92,000 sq metres in 2003. “This confirms that the concept of Anuga
FoodTec precisely fulfils the food technology sector’s market requirement
for interdisciplinary communication and presentation,” he added.
He
also said that the most distinctive characteristic of the Anuga FoodTec
is that it is not bound to specific sectors, raw materials or sub-processes.
With 12 different food worlds and 10 cross-sector trend themes, Anuga
provides direction and is a source of inspiration and momentum for the
food and drink business tomorrow. Within this ‘coordinate system’ the
exhibitors will be able to market their product range to its best advantage.
Anuga would also provide a platform to make valuable business-to-business
contacts and explore potential areas for future success. “Its cross-over
concept is specifically designed to create ideal preconditions for making
investment decisions, whether they concern complex projects or solutions
to specific problems,” he remarked.
| The
imports from EU currently account for 25% of the total Indian imports.
In terms of import also EU is the most important trading partner
for the Indian industry: 28% of all imports to India come from EU
countries |
With
the extension of the main product area at the fair, the event now encompasses
an even broader spectrum of representatives from the food processing
industry. These include the areas of dairy farming, meat, poultry and
fish processing industry, the soup and sauce industry, fruit and vegetable
processing, the industry of fruit juice, alcoholic and soft drinks,
baby food, canned food, confectionery, tea processing, ready meals,
and grain and spice processing. The sectors on display will include
process technology, packaging technology, automation, food safety and
quality management, environmental technology, bio-engineering, information
technology/EDP, technological process materials and services.
Besides
focussing on the above categories Anuga will also serve as a discussion
forum. Predicting the future trends in the industry, this year’s themes
will include, functional foods, finger foods, kosher and halal products
and vegetarian products.
According
to KC Damodaran, Representative Koelnmesse India, the Indian participation
is expected to double this year with the joint pavilions being planned
by the International Trade Promotion Organisation and Indo German Chamber
of Commerce. Agricultural Produce Export Development Authority is also
actively supporting companies intending to take part in the fair, he
added. He also said that discussions were under progress with the Government
of Maharashtra for organising a mango promotion campaign at the fair.
The
Chief Guest for the presentation, Harshwardhan Patil, Minister of Marketing
and EGS, Government of Maharashtra, said that the Maharashtra State
Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB) was working extensively for the
promotion of export of agro produce from the state. He said that MSAMB
was looking forward to participate in the upcoming Anuga FoodTec. “MSAMB,
will make necessary efforts to motivate maximum number of exporters
from the state to participate in the fair...I think Anuga FoodTec will
be the best opportunity for Indian exporters to display the fresh produce
from India like mango, grapes, pomegranate, sapota, papaya, banana and
orange,” he added.
Team
Netscribes
