Georgia’s Food Processing Industry Forges New Export Opportunities at SIAL Paris 2022
The USAID Agriculture Program, implemented in Georgia by Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA), aims to enhance the competitiveness of key domestic sectors with potential to create jobs and increase the revenues of micro, small and medium enterprises.
Georgia’s food processing industry is an example of a sector with immense potential for growth. In recent years, investments in modern technologies and improved equipment have strengthened processors’ knowledge and capacity, however limitations in the sector like accessing export and domestic retail markets still exist.
One way the USAID Agriculture Program addresses these barriers is by regularly participating in international trade fairs and similar activities to facilitate business-to-business linkages between Georgian exporters and potential buyers and traders in target markets. Guided by this vision, the Program targeted “SIAL Paris 2022” as a source of new, high-value markets for Georgian exporters. Every two years at SIAL Paris, one of the largest trade shows in the food processing industry, thousands of tastemakers and innovators from around the world convene to exhibit their products and grow their businesses.
In October 2022, the Program collaborated with Enterprise Georgia and the country’s Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development to design a food and beverage exhibition at SIAL Paris that showcased the products of 28 Georgian food and beverage producers. The exhibition featured displays of dried fruit, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, jam, honey, fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, berries, natural juices, teas, iced teas, lemonade, beer and mineral water. It also included a cooking demonstration of Georgian cuisine that attracted numerous visitors.
The 2022 trade show attracted over 6,000 participants and more than 150,000 guests from 200 countries. In addition to showcasing high-quality Georgian agricultural products, the event promoted Georgia as a valuable trade partner, paving the way for processors to increase their exports and profits. Georgian company representatives who participated in the trade show reported holding over 100 meetings with potential partners. Additionally, some of these companies have already started negotiations with buyers from Europe and the Gulf countries, further exemplifying the trade show’s success.
