The International Food Exhibition (IFEX) Philippines will support the country’s year-long hosting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings by featuring brands and cuisine from APEC economies throughout the show on May 21-24 at SMX Convention Center.
Its organizer, the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry – Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM), is gearing up for a bigger and more impressive show this year as it celebrates its 10th edition and supports two milestone events for the country: the Philippine hosting of APEC and the implementation of ONE ASEAN 2015.
As an official parallel activity to the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, the biennial trade fair IFEX Philippines stages TasteAPEC@IFEXPhilippines this year to showcase a wide-ranging array of the most exciting food products and the hottest trends in the food industry in the 21 affiliate economies of APEC.
IFEX will hold three focal components that will highlight the food innovations of the Philippines, the APEC economies, and the rest of the world. Top executives, leading importers, and the best catering companies are expected to flock to the International Hall, which will feature country pavilions presenting the food products of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, and Vietnam among others. A special display showcase dedicated to the APEC Top Brands will also be featured at the International Hall, as well as an inviting kitchen setting where APEC’s celebrated chefs will charm visitors with their exciting cooking demonstrations.
Trade visitors and buyers should not miss the Food Philippines Hall, which includes industry pavilions of the Philippines along with Grocer’s Exchange Mart (G-MART) — a business setting designed to provide top grocers from the APEC region a special access to hand-picked Philippine food exporters equipped for private labelling. Located also in the Food Philippines Hall is a highly curated presentation entitled SoulFood, which features select Philippine specialty and artisanal food products that evoke heritage, provenance, authenticity, quality, and uniqueness in inspiring and modern tablescapes.
The Marketplace, where IFEX Philippines visitors can purchase and sample on-the-spot a fresh and hip assortment of food products, features a lively and convenient shopping experience with its vibrant setting.
Found in the Marketplace is a dynamic display of food products developed in Taguig, Quezon City, Pasig, and Dagupan through the Partner City Program of CITEM in cooperation with local government units, as well as a unique section dedicated to Filipino merchandise and commodities developed under the program One Town One Product, a priority endeavor of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Domestic Trade.
Exhibiting first-rate farm and fish products, the Agri-Aqua and Natural Products Pavilion in the Agriculture and Commodities Hall is organized in partnership with the Philippine Department of Agriculture.
In 2013, IFEX Philippines reasserted its place as a favored and most important international food and ingredients sourcing event in the country. The remarkable outcome of the 9th IFEX Philippines is shown in more than 13,000 trade buyers and visitors from key regions to the booths of over 600 local and international exhibitors.
“With innovation and creativity as the driving force, IFEX Philippines 2015 aspires to affirm once again the importance of the Philippines as the region’s preferred gathering point for food business and networking,” said Rosvi C. Gaetos, CITEM’s executive director.