Fi Asia Philippines - A New Opportunity for the Regional Food Industry

By United Business Media, PRNE
Sunday, June 6, 2010

BANGKOK, June 7, 2010 - The first Food Ingredients Asia show ever held in the Philippines will
give the domestic food industry greater access to much needed ingredients and
technology from around the world. The three day business-to-business event
will also be a banquet of opportunity for international food manufacturers
who will attend from all over the world. Organised by UBM, the show is set to
run in Manila on 11-13 May 2011.

Currently the Philippine food industry contributes 40% of the country's
GDP, and 2010 export revenue is forecast at US$4 billion. The sector is also
the leading industry group employing over 144,000 workers - 15.3 percent of
the workforce.

"Ingredients consumption in the Philippines has risen dramatically with a
30% volume increase in 2009 alone," said Michiel Kruse, Managing Director of
UBM Asia (Thailand). "This emphasizes the Philippine markets rising affluence
and new awareness of nutritional issues and high-value additives," he said.
"All good news for international manufacturers."

Mr Marty Panganiban, President of the Philippine Association of Food
Technologists (PAFT) - the umbrella organisation of all Food Technologists in
the Philippines and is affiliated with FOSTAT, IFT and IUFOST, expressed his
appreciation in cooperation with Fi Asia Philippines and UBM. Fi Asia
Philippines will be co-located with the 50th Convention of PAFT, a conference
that regularly attracts hundreds of food professionals.

"Our convention focuses on better nutrition and health awareness as well
as advances in functional ingredients, food safety and technology," said Mr
Panganiban. "The Philippine market needs to improve to reach its goal of
greater global participation," he said.

Also affirming appreciation of the co-located conference and exhibition
was the Vice Chairman of the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers (PCFM)
Maria Cecilia R Dela Paz. The PCFM counts amongst its members industry giants
like Del Monte Philippines, Dole Philippines, General Milling Corp., RFM Corp
and Universal Robina Corp.

The Fi Asia series of shows is part of UBM's global food ingredients
portfolio that includes 80,000 attendees. South East Asia is the focus of the
series which helps manufacturers, distributors and equipment suppliers reach
their markets. The exhibition has served the region for 15 years.

Fi Asia 2009 held in Bangkok, Thailand attracted 209 exhibitors from 29
countries. There were over 6,000 trade visitors from 45 countries.

About the organiser

United Business Media is headquartered in London, UK. The office in the
Netherlands
is the organiser of the world-leading Health ingredients, Food
ingredients, CPhi, ICSE and Informex series of food and pharmaceutical
ingredients trade shows. The Dutch office also publishes International Food
Ingredients Magazine For more information, visit www.ubm.com.

UBM - International Media, Ms. Rotem Zur Klapwijk, +31(0)20-40-99-560, +31(0)20-36-32-616, Rotem.ZurKlapwijk at ubm.com, or UBM Asia (Thailand), MS. Janya Positvinyu, +66-2-642-6911, or Fax, +66-2-642-6919/20, Janya.P at ubm.com

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