SEOUL, 22 May 2017 -Innovative Philippine food products captured the avid interest of visitors and prospective buyers at the Seoul Food 2017 that was convened at the Korea International Exhibition and Convention Center (KINTEX) in Gyeonggi province, Republic of Korea from 16-19 May 2017.

The Embassy of the Philippines in Seoul, through its Philippine Agriculture Office led by Agricultural Analyst Maria Alilia Maghirang, spearheaded the participation of a mission comprised of Philippine food exporters and officials from the Philippine Department of Agriculture in Seoul Food 2017 which is a major food and hospitality exhibition organized annually by Seoul Food in collaboration with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). Since its inception in 1983, Seoul Food has experienced an exponential growth in its membership from 79 companies to 1,382 companies in 2017.

In his welcoming remarks at the Opening Ceremony, Mr. Jaehong Kim, President and CEO of KOTRA, expressed hope that Seoul Food 2017 would serve as a platform for Korean and foreign food companies to establish valuable business partnerships that would foster the growth of the food industries in Korea and overseas. Mr. Kim expressed optimism that the 4th Industrial Revolution, powered by the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and advances in mobile communications, would lead to the convergence of food industries and digital technologies that would create greater value and more business opportunities for food industries worldwide. The Opening Ceremony concluded with a ribbon-cutting participated in by Ambassadors/Charge d' Affaires, a.i. of diplomatic missions in Seoul. Consul General Christian De Jesus represented Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Seoul Food 2017 provided a valuable opportunity for the Philippine companies to showcase their food products and to engage in business to business meetings with prospective buyers. Philippine food products that were promoted at the event included traditional favorites such as dried tropical fruits, banana chips and coconut based products as well as innovative Philippine food products such as pili nut filled pastries, pili nut variants, mango vinegar, yacon products, moringa products, polvoron variants, organic coconut wraps and Mama Sita's wide range of products such as sauces, marinades, ginger chicken rice porridge mix, cacao champorado rice porridge mix, tropical syrups and jams.

Overall, the Philippines' participation in Seoul Food 2017 was a resounding success as it resulted in promising business leads for participating Philippine food exporters.



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