The culinary world is set to converge in Shenzhen as the 111th China Food & Drinks Fair gears up to tantalize taste buds from Oct. 29 to 31 at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center in Qianhai.
The prestigious fair, which will be held in Shenzhen for the second time, is poised to welcome over 900 overseas exhibitors from 40 countries and regions to a grand celebration of global cuisine and beverages, according to a press conference held in the city Friday.
Wu Kunsheng, deputy secretary-general of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, expressed high hopes for the event, emphasizing its “internationalization” focus. This approach is expected to draw international resources and business entities to Shenzhen.
Li Minghua, executive deputy director of the organizing committee of the China Food & Drinks Fair and chairman of COFCO Sugar, highlighted the scale of the event. The total exhibition area of 220,000 square meters is not only a new milestone, but also makes the event the largest comprehensive exhibition in the food and drinks industry on the mainland during the second half of the year.
The event will feature seven specialized exhibition areas and 14 “special category” exhibition areas, including a wide array of products like traditional alcoholic beverages, dairy products, and food machinery. Over 4,200 companies are expected to exhibit products.
Shi Dongyan, secretary-general of the organizing committee, said that Shenzhen was strategically chosen for its market influence in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, Southeast Asia, and beyond. The fair is expected to serve as a gateway for foreign firms to enter China and as a springboard for domestic companies to expand globally.
In an effort to facilitate international trade, the organizing committee has teamed up with foreign governments and business associations to bring together procurement delegations from countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Russia.