KUALA LUMPUR: Thailand is inviting manufacturers, importers, exporters and distributors from the food and beverage (F&B) sector to visit ThaiFex — World of Food Asia 2015 (ThaiFex 2015), a leading F&B trade fair in Bangkok that will showcase about 1,500 international exhibitors.

In a statement, Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), which is under its Ministry of Commerce, said it is actively seeking new opportunities in high-potential export markets while providing support for key industrial sectors that represent Thailand’s fundamental strengths such as the agricultural processing sector.

ThaiFex 2015 is one of its measures to do so. Organised by the DITP with the aim to make the trade fair a mainstay for the food industry and all related technologies and services from all across Asia, the DITP said the event this year is supported by key partners like the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Koelnmesse of Germany.

The event will kick off with business matching days on May 20 to 22 (10am to 6pm), followed by retail sales for the general public on May 23 and 24 (10am to 8pm) at Impact Muang Thong Thani (Impact Arena and Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre), Bangkok, Thailand.

“We are confident that trade negotiations conducted as part of the event will help forge new trade relationships between Thai entrepreneurs and international partners, ultimately contributing to the goal of transforming Thailand into the kitchen of the world,” said DITP director-general Nantawan Sakuntanaga.

The DITP said a full range of food and beverage products — including halal and organic food products, food services, related technologies and innovations, small food retailers, and food franchises — will be on display during the trade fair.

Various talks and exclusive activities have also been lined up to educate and entertain visitors, including a halal food exhibition, a Thailand trust mark exhibition, a seminar on safety standards in food manufacturing, an Asian food franchise forum, a food service forum and cooking competitions.

Participants will also have the opportunity to meet industry gurus from Thailand and the Indochina region, added the DITP.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on May 5, 2015.