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Yeonsoon and Lindsay Bourke exhibit their honey products at the Food & Hotel Asia trade show in Singapore.

By Sally Chandler, TCCI TradeStart Adviser

The four-day trade show Food & Hotel Asia 2018 (FHA) was held in Singapore in April.

FHA is held biennially and draws buyers from the South Asian region as well as exhibitors from many parts of the world.

This year’s event attracted more than 55,000 visitors from more than 100 countries or regions.

A record 3,526 exhibitors from 76 countries and regions covered 119,500 square metres of exhibition space across two venues. There were 72 international group pavilions.

For the first time in six years, the trade unit at the Department of State Growth organised a stand for Tasmanian exhibitors.

The stand in the Australian pavilion was co-ordinated by Fransena Kennedy.

Nine Tasmanian companies exhibited including Australian Honey Products, Juicy Isle, Hill Farm Preserves, Tas’Mania, Blue Hills Honey, Woodbridge Smokehouse, Daly Gourmet Potatoes, Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company and Tasman Sea Salt.

I introduced Austrade business development managers from the nine South Asian offices of Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Vietnam and the Philippines to each Tasmanian exhibitor so that they in turn could introduce their appropriate visiting buyers to the companies and the excellent Tasmanian products on display.

The Tasmanian products included several varieties of honey including Leatherwood and Manuka, honey mead with Tasmanian whisky, fruit juices, carbonated flavoured waters, mineral water, seeded and paste mustards, infused canola oils, canned abalone, cheese, fresh apples, smoked salmon and smoked trout, potato salad varieties, relishes, jams, sauces and sea salt.

All Tasmanian exhibitors are now busily following up with the contacts they made at the trade show and early signs of sales activity are encouraging.

Exhibiting at industry-specific trade shows and for the more premium products, product specific trade shows, are an excellent way of showcasing our goods to international buyers whether they be importers, distributors, food service companies or retailers buying direct for brick and mortar stores or online.

I am very happy to discuss future trade show opportunities with interested product manufacturers across all industries.

For international trade and investment assistance contact the TCCI’s TradeStart Adviser, Sally Chandler, at sally.chandler@tcci.com.au or phone 1300 559 122.