The world’s leading food expo, SIAL, will be held in Paris from October 19 to 23. The expo will host 7,500 international participants from 130 countries and is expected to attract 285,000 professional visitors from 200 countries.
Turkey’s Strong Presence
Among the countries making a significant appearance at SIAL is Turkey. Turkey has been participating in SIAL expos since 1986. This year, Turkish national booths will showcase products in various specialized halls, including General Food, Pulses, Fruits, Vegetables, Biscuits, Chocolate, Confectionery, Frozen Food, Meat and Poultry, Food Equipment and Technologies, Beverages, Organic Food, and Dairy Products.
The participation of Turkey is organized by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO). A promotional meeting about SIAL expos was held in Istanbul. Speaking at the meeting, ITO Vice President Ahmet Özer recalled that ITO has been facilitating national participation in international expos for over half a century. He stated, “The food sector is crucial for Turkey’s economy. That’s why we value the SIAL expos. We participate nationally in SIAL expos in China, Canada, India, and Indonesia.”
Özer added that they are also considering participation in SIAL expos in Malaysia and China-Shenzhen. He said, “This year, at the SIAL Paris Expo, which Turkiye’s first attended in 1986, we are present in nine specialized halls, covering about 8,000 square meters, with nearly 300 of our companies. I believe our country’s growing expertise in production, supply, marketing, and sales will be strongly represented at this expo in October. The great power of SIAL as a global platform continues to serve as a lever for our sectors to open up to the world.”
Focus on Food Security
Nicolas Trentesaux, General Manager of the SIAL Network, mentioned that they are preparing for the SIAL Paris Expo in October, acknowledging the series of crises that have occurred. He noted that Covid-19 has impacted trade and events. Trentesaux stated, “Apart from the political crises affecting the economy, we also have a climate crisis. We live in a much less stable world. But in this complex context, we all want to feed our citizens. The food sector remains critical for all world economies.”
Trentesaux emphasized that the food sector will continue to grow. He said, “People want reliable food products. It is important that food is both healthy and high-quality, and sustainable. Environmentally conscious responsible production is becoming prominent. We need to find new transformation methods. We will see this at SIAL Paris. Accessibility is also very important. The world population will increase by 2 billion people, but their purchasing power will be low. Food prices need to be low as well.”
Massive Participation
Trentesaux highlighted SIAL’s three main goals: business, inspiration, and networking. He pointed out that 90% of the food sector is made up of SMEs and small companies. He said, “We expect 285,000 professional visitors at SIAL Paris from 130 countries, featuring 7,500 companies. The expo covers 260,000 square meters of discovery and meeting space, showcasing 400,000 products, equivalent to the capacity of 100 supermarkets. SIAL Paris 2024 will be like a festival. We have our 60th anniversary celebrations. Every day of the expo will feature different events. Our 60th anniversary logo is also included. We will celebrate with a big show on Sunday evening, October 20. We invite everyone to Paris from October 19 to 23.”
