This week saw exporters from across the Pacific region showcasing their premium products and unique flavours at Sial Paris, the world's largest food industry trade fair. The event, held from October 15 – 19 this year, returned following a two-year hiatus due to COVID -19 related lockdowns and international travel restrictions, bringing over 310,000 visitors from more than 200 countries together under the one roof.
As part of Pacific Trade Invest (PTI) Europe’s ‘Pacific Showcase’ stand, the nine producers selected to take part in the exhibition included Fiji businesses Pleass Global, Punjas and Frespac Ginger, French Polynesia businesses Ariki Rum, Bora Bora Sea Salt and Rurua Vanilla, Papua New Guinea businesses Innovative Agro Industry and Frangipani Foods, and Solomon Islands business Solomon’s Gold.
Jodie Stewart, PTI Europe’s Trade Commissioner, said that as the world’s largest food industry event, Sial Paris provided a plethora of opportunities for Pacific businesses looking to forge direct buyer connections and improve market access within the European market.
“Sial Paris facilitated a gathering of industry experts, enthusiasts, and media under one roof, in a setting that supports business. Through attending such an event, our Pacific businesses were able to showcase some of the many premium products coming out of the region, while also crafting business to business connections within the European market. Such events also go a long way to reminding us that even in a post COVID world, the value of person-to-person networking is integral in building these connections and solidifying strong business relationships.”
Attracting over 7,000 exhibitors, the trade show is in its fiftieth year after first being held during International Food Week in 1964, where experts and enthusiasts from 26 countries took part. Today, the biennial event attracts exhibitors and visitors from over 200 countries and is a flagship event in the worldwide food calendar.
Dr John Moxon, Founder and Managing Director of Papua New Guinea-based Frangipani Foods, said the Sial trade show provided the perfect opportunity to launch their company’s latest product – retail ready galip nut snacks, both roasted and raw.
“We have worked hard in the lead-up towards Sial to produce our retail ready snacks and are proud to be the world’s first galip nut product on the international market. Galip nuts are packed with vitamins, antioxidants and omega oils, also containing seven of the nine essential amino acids. We want to lead the way as we introduce these to the world as a major export commodity benefitting both Papua New Guinea’s rural households and national economy, and Sial provided the perfect opportunity to do just that.
“Over the course of the week, we were honoured to win the prestigious Sial Innovation award, rewarding the best in product innovation. Given we had to submit our product samples to the judges before our packaging had arrived, we were thrilled to have the uniqueness of our Papua New Guinea galip nuts recognized in this way.”
This will be the fourth year Pacific Trade Invest Europe has facilitated the Pacific Showcase at Sial Paris.
Founded in 1979, PTI Europe is an agency of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat working to facilitate trade and investment opportunities in the Pacific Islands.
For more information on Pacific products within the European market, contact Pacific Trade Invest Europe Trade Commissioner, Jodie Stewart, on jodie@pacifictradeinvest.com.
