Aahar, Asia's leading event on food tech

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Sabyasachi Samajdar, New Delhi

The India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) is organising the 24th edition of Aahar, the International Fair for Food, Food Processing and Related Equipment, Hotel and Restaurant Equipment and Supplies at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, from March 7 to 10, 2009. The annual fair is one of the oldest food related trade exhibitions in the country and is considered as Asia's leading event on food technology. Twenty forth edition of Aahar will be the largest ever event in its history and will bring the opportunities to the food processors in India to showcase their products before the international audience. The fair is being organised with the support of the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Association of Resource companies for the Hospitality Industry (ARCHI), Confederation of Indian Food Trade & Industry (CIFTI, food wing of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, FICCI), AIl India Food Processors' Association, and Hotel and Restaurant Equipment Manufacturers Association of India (HOTREMAI). According to Sanjay Vahistha of ITPO, there is good potential for Indian foods in the global market particularly for the traditional Indian foods. The products have the inherent strength or being unique in taste, aroma and palatability, as for example, Indian curries and traditional non-vegetarian products have already made phenomenal success in the UK, as its revenue reached Rs 27,000 crore. Our food brands need to be promoted in the global market properly. So, we need to display our traditional as well as modern food products before the international audience and Aahar 2009 will give the opportunity to our food processors to showcase their products. "Since its inception 23 years ago, the fair has evolved into one of the single largest trade shows of its kind in South Asian region for promotion and projecting the processed food and related sectors in a global backdrop. In the process, it has been acting as an effective catalyst for technological upgradation and exports in these sectors. Significantly, with 20% rise in participation, the forthcoming edition of the fair will be divided into two independent shows, viz. Food India, covering food and food processing sector and Hospitality India, representing hotel and restaurant equipment and supplies," Vashistha said. He also said, "This year, over 400 firms from different parts of India, besides Bangladesh, Canada, China, Chile, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey and USA are participating in the fair with a broad spectrum focus on products, equipment, technologies and services. The fair will be supplemented by seminars in which experts will participate and present useful perspectives of great future relevance to trade and industry". Vashistha mentioned that Aahar is the leading exhibitions for food, food processing, hotel and restaurant equipment and supplies in Asia, wherein players from these sectors showcase their growth and progress. It plays a significant role not only in bringing together the potential business partners from India and abroad but also provides a platform for implementing in government schemes for infrastructural development like establishing food parks, packaging and valueadded centres, integrated cold-chain facility, irradiated and modernised abattoirs. It also offers a reliable and time tested forum for B2B transactions, exploration of joint venture and technological up-gradation and sourcing opportunities. Aahar 2009 will thus offer a segmentised platform for showcasing the developments and progress achieved in the processed food and hospitality sectors, through the ambit of display covering products, technologies and services, and the scope embodied by them for investment and tech up-gradation. It is learnt that Hospitality industry is poised for a major growth. About 20,000 more hotel rooms are required for Commonwealth Games in 2010 in Delhi. To cater to the demand for rooms a 5-year tax holiday for 2, 3 and 4 star hotels as well as convention centres with a seating capacity not less than 3000 has been declared. Hopitality India, which encases various categories of equipment being used, offers a platform for the manufacturers and suppliers to display the latest state-of-the-art equipment manufactured by them. Beyond that Hospitality India helps upgrade manufacturing standards to meet of international competition. For achieving this investment is being made by manufacturers on improving skills of manpower in quality machinery and tools and latest technology. Areas which have seen remarkable change in these years are bakery, laundry, food service equipment. This exposition helps the visitors from the hospitality sector to find a one window solution to their need to provide hygienic environment at back of the house (kitchen), good quality food and higher level of productivity. Aahar 2009 will display platform of all kind of foods, processed food, alcoholic (subject to obtaining prior permit from the office of Excise Commissioner of National Capital Territory of Delhi) and other beverages, food processing, packaging, mill machinery and equipment, poultry and farm equipment and supplies, dairy and confectionery equipment,

air-conditioning, refrigeration and cold storage systems, air and water pollution control equipment and accessories, hotel and kitchen equipment and tableware, laundry, interior and house keeping, health and fitness equipment, consultancy services and hospitality supplies. Bakery and confectionery culinary show will be a specialised event in Aahar 2009, it is learnt. Vashistha said that the purpose of Aahar was to attract foreign manufacturers, distributors and suppliers along with domestic ones. India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) - the premier trade promotion agency of the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry, is committed to showcase excellence achieved by the country in diverse fields, especially trade and commerce. ITPO provides a wide spectrum of services to trade and industry and acts as a catalyst for growth of India's trade. ITPO approves holding of international trade fairs in India and regulates holding of various expositions in India primarily to avoid any duplication of efforts while ensuring proper timing. It manages India's world-class exhibition complex, which is constantly upgraded to keep it in a high standard of readiness. Spread over 149 acres of prime land in the heart of India's capital, New Delhi, Pragati Maidan offers about 61,290 sq mtrs of covered exhibition space in 16 halls, besides 10,000 sq mtrs of open display area. The state-of-the-art exhibition halls have enhanced the appeal of Pragati Maidan as the ideal centre for an increasing number of fair organisers and business visitors from different parts of the world. According to P L Kaul of All India Food Processors Association (AIFPA), Aahar exhibition has achieved a new milestone by establishing itself as the only leading exhibition of Processed Food, Hotel & Restaurant Equipment Machinery in this part of the world. "Aahar Exhibition has already achieved an international acknowledgement. The main activities and services of Aahar trade fairs and exhibitions are to give assistance to the Indian companies in product development and adaptation to meet buyers' requirements. Establishing durable contacts between Indian suppliers and overseas buyers this year Aahar is organising Buyer-Seller Meets and bringing buyers and sellers together, arranging product displays for visiting overseas buyers, organising seminars, conferences and workshops on trade-related subjects", Vashistha added.