Food & Beverage News: Interview - 25th Aahar International to create history in Indian f&b sector

With every edition of Aahar International trade fair – India Trade Promotion Organisation, trade promotion agency of the union ministry of commerce & industry, aims to bring newer ideas and represent India’s two mammoth industries namely food processing and hospitality.Naseem Ishaque, general manager, ITPO, says, the primary objective of Aahar International is to highlight plethora of trade opportunities with India. In an exclusive interview with Hasan Mulani she reveals ITPO’s plans to celebrate the silver jubilee edition. Excerpts:

Aahar India will be celebrating its 25th edition this year, how different would be Aahar International 2010 compared to the previous years?
Aahar food fair has come a long way from a modest presentation in an area of 4,000 sq. metres. in 1986 and now spread over to 30,000 sq. metres. Aahar has emerged as one of the largest international trade shows in this part of the world on food, processed food, hospitality industry and related sectors. We now have a much larger exhibitors’ response making it into two independent segments, i.e., “Food India” covering processed food & beverages sector and “Hospitality India” representing hotel, restaurant, bakery, confectionery and equipment sector.

What is the theme and highlight of this year’s event? What is the message that ITPO wants to share with the country’s f&b and hotel industry through Aahar India?
Each year Aahar has a thematic presentation and this year’s theme is “Traceability in Food” which would be projected by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and APEDA in the Food Sector. As usual the highlights for the event would be the Culinary Show presented by the Indian Culinary Forum in association with the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations & Hospitality First as well as seminars. This year the seminar's topic is “Speedy and Inclusive Growth of Food Processing Industry” presented by All India Food Processors’ Association.

What will attract food processors, hoteliers to participate in the event? Any special arrangement for the silver jubilee edition?
Hospitality industry is poised for a major growth especially for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games. The exposition will help the visitors from the hospitality sector to find a one window solution to their needs for providing hygienic environment in the kitchen, good quality food and higher level of productivity.

Aahar’10 will be a segmentised platform for showcasing the development and progress achieved in the processed food and hospitality sector especially the ‘Vision-2015’ undertaken by the MoFPI. This highlights the 3-fold growth in the size of the processed food sector, an increasing level of processing of perishables from 6% to 20% as well as share in global food trade from 1.5% to 3%.

Extensive facilities and arrangements have been made for the business visitors especially for pre-registration, lounges for one-on-one meetings, business lounges, travelling and banking counters, etc.

What is the expected number of registrations for Aahar International 2010 from foreign countries and India in particular? What would be the total number of attendees over all?
Last year Aahar had witnessed about 10,000 business visitors out of which 100 were overseas delegates. As per the information collected so far it is expected to cross last year’s figure.

Nodal agencies like MOFPI and APEDA are supporting the event. What are your expectations with these agencies? Can you brief us on each agency’s role?
Aahar – the International Food Fair is organised with the support of Ministry of Food Processing Industries. A thematic pavilion is set up by MoFPI as well as APEDA in the food segment. In addition, other support organisations from the hotel and restaurant industry sector, namely, ARCHI and HOTREMAI also promote the event not only for participation but also for visitor-ship. AIFPA presents the seminars during the show.

Kindly detail on the seminars, conferences and culinary show at the event?
Over the years AIFPA has also become an integral part of the show. A seminar on March 12, 2010, will be presented by AIFPA. Culinary show is a major attraction of Aahar for the last few years. This year the same will be presented by Indian Culinary Forum from March 10-14, 2010.

Though the country is the food basket for the world – the f&b, hotel industry lack mega trade events like IBA in Germany and Gulf Food in Dubai to showcase its products. Please comment.
Aahar-the International Food Fair is an event which has participation both at national and international level and is a platform to give opportunities not only to the big brands but to the SMEs sector also. Thus it has become an event much sought after both at national and international level.

How would the event cater to the growing needs of the food processing and hospitality industry? What are the challenges faced in organising trade fairs.
Aahar series of fairs have been playing a significant role not only in bringing together the potential business partners from India and abroad but also providing a platform for implementing government schemes for infrastructural development like establishing food parks, packaging and value-added centres, integrated cold-chain facility, irradiation and modernised abattoir. It also offers a reliable and time-tested forum for B 2 B transactions, exploration of joint ventures and technological up-gradation and sourcing opportunities.

What are the problems faced by the industry today? What are your views on the future prospects?
Despite India having a huge agricultural production base, its share in exports of processed food in global trade is minimal in comparison to the size of the global processed-food market whereas, nearly 80% of agricultural products in the developed countries get processed and packaged.

Consequently, there is a tremendous potential for export-led growth and investment in this sector.

Could you please give us a brief account on the success of Aahar International 2009 in terms of participation and as a platform for new business opportunities.
Aahar will offer a segmentised platform for showcasing the developments and progress achieved in the processed food and hospitality sectors, through ambit of display covering products, technologies and services, and the scope embodied by them for investment and tech upgradation.

As a buyer-supplier meet, how would the event benefit the participants and the industry as a whole?
Aahar is a platform for the visitor to find a one window solution to his/her needs, be it the processed food sector or the hospitality sector. It also offers a reliable and time tested arena for B2B transactions, setting up collaboration, joint ventures and business deals. It is indeed a much sought after event both by the participants as well as the business visitors.