World Food Moscow 2009: looking behind the financial crisis.




The 18th World Food Moscow, September the 15th to the 18th was, in spite of the financial rumours a serious success for the organisers and, more importantly, for the exhibitors and visitors. “The amount of Fresh Produce exhibitors is still growing and the total amount of visitors also grew this year” According to Tony Higginson, World Food Moscow’s international event manager. “Of course there are clear signals that companies are having serious difficulties with international trade but there are many companies looking behind the financial crisis”

The exhibition in Moscow is promoting four different food groups and this year Fresh Produce was a separate part called ‘World Fruit Moscow’. With in total 1326 exhibitors from 63 countries it is clear that this gives a multicultural inspiration.

As is clear to everyone, the crisis has hit the Fresh Produce trade very seriously. Especially the financing of outstanding money together with the credit insurance policies has made international trade slower.  On the other hand, many companies are still looking further than just this difficult period. Alexander Visser, CEO of the Dutch Export company Alexport said in his presentation in the forum, “Alexport believes in a growing Russian market for healthy fruit and vegetables in the future. The Russian market is however a highly demanding market for top quality, and there is only room for exporters which take Russian demands seriously and who want to be present in good times and bad”.His company has been present at the WFM for the last 11 years without interruption.

Mrs. Katerina Akulenko, representative of the USA Pear Bureau explained that during the crisis at the end of the eighties a lot of companies postponed their activities while USA pears continued to be in the market. “Of course this was a difficult period but, looking back, it was a good decision to stay in the market”.

Local Production is growing.
“The local production in Russia is improving and growing in quality and quantity” was said by one of the officials during the opening of the exhibition. Due to this growth the amount of Russian companies attending is also increasing. “In spite of this growth, we will still need a vast amount of products from outside the country because of the quality and availability” says Mr. Illgar Aliev, CEO of Aljans Ltd located at the Stupinsky Wholesale market in Moscow. “We are happy with our actual suppliers from different countries”.

“Although Russia is promoting their local production they still need products from countries with a different climate, like Turkey” says Öner Basaran CEO of the Turkish export company Öner. “We have been doing business with Russia for many years now and our clients in Russia are happy with our citrus.” Mr. Basaran explained that World Food Moscow is an excellent place to meet his clients in Russia.

In the coming month you will find more articles about companies who attended the World Food Moscow this year.

For more information www.world-food.ru

Click here for the photo report of the World Food Moscow 2009

Publication date: 9/22/2009
Author: Wim Geurts
Copyright: www.freshplaza.com

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