Food makers set sights on Japan fair
Local food manufacturers will have a wider chance to promote their items in Japan by attending Asia's biggest food and beverages exhibition FOODEX, set to kick off on March 3 next year.
The four-day fair will take place at Makuhari Messe, Chiba in Japan, which is expected to pull about 100,000 visitors, including wholesalers, importers, retailers and food makers from around the world.
Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) seeks applications from prospective participants from developing countries including Bangladesh to clear the way for food manufacturers to join the fair.
Jetro says it will set up a pavilion -- Jetro Zone -- to enable food manufacturers to display their products.
“The objective of Jetro Zone is to boost exports from developing countries to Japan through assistance to the food sector,” said Jetro in a statement.
Jetro, the trade and investment promotion body under the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan, said the exhibition would provide an opportunity for participants to network with Japanese buyers.
Jetro Zone will be the first step for the companies to enter one of the world's biggest food markets, which imports 60 percent of its food supply that translates into $44 billion.
“It's highly anticipated that Bangladeshi food items will get access to the highly sensitive Japanese food market,” said Tomohiro Kinomoto, representative of Jetro in Bangladesh in a statement.
Jetro, which will offer booths to the participants from developing countries at a subsidised rate of 70 percent, said the companies in the food and beverages sector would be able to turn in applications until October 9.
Grains, potatoes, seafood, herbs, spices, salt, tea, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, chocolate, conned and frozen foods will figure on the list of fair exhibits, subject to inspection by Jetro.
Jetro will confirm that the items qualify for exports to Japan.
Mineral water, meat, frozen sweets such as ice cream cannot be displayed at FOODEX.
According to Jetro, foods to be displayed at the fair should have a trace-ability system and must be free from agriculture and post-harvest chemicals. Foods should be without additives -- one of the stringent conditions.
Various certifications such as HACCAP, GMP, GLOBALGAP, ISO9001 and ISO22000 will also help meet the reliability criteria.
Officials at Jetro in Bangladesh said the local companies first attended the exhibition in 2004, but responses from Bangladeshi food processors remained lukewarm, as the process of accessing Japan's food market is complicated.
However, some small companies such as Bangla Natural Agro have been participating in the exhibition over the last couple of years.
Bangla Natural, a trading company, is now in talks with some Japanese buyers to export turmeric, guava leaf and neem leaf to Japan.
“We are negotiating. I hope the deals will be finalised ahead of next FOODEX,” said Mohammad Anisur Rahman, chief executive and managing director of Bangla Natural.
Total value of the orders will approach $100,000, he told The Daily Star yesterday.
“It has become a learning place for me. Attending the exhibition has helped boost my confidence. Now I can negotiate with buyers without hesitation,” Rahman said.
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