AAHAR 2016 REGISTERS 25% GROWTH: EXHIBITORS SWELL TO 1001
New Delhi ;-Surpassing all previous participation records, the 31st edition of AAHAR – the International Food and Hospitality Fair will commence at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from March 15,
2016. The fair will be inaugurated by Smt. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Food Processing Industries, Government of India. AAHAR (March15-19,2016) is being hosted by India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) with the support of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, Agricultural and Processed Food Products Development Authority (APEDA) and Association of Resource Companies for Hospitality Industry of India(ARCHII), Hotel and Restaurant Equipment Manufacturers Association of India(HOTREMAI), All India Food Processors Association(AIFPA), Food & Hospitality Support Association of India(FHSAI) and Forum of Indian Food Importers(FIFI). This year, AAHAR assumes added significance especially when in the recent budget, the Government has given special focus on the farm sector and decided to allow up to100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in marketing of food items produced and manufactured locally, aimed at reducing wastage, helping farm diversification and encouraging global companies to produce locally rather than importing items.
Opening new avenues of investment for global investors, the fair features business friendly policies, pro-active administration under ‘Make in India’, ‘Skill India’ ‘Start-up & Stand-up India’ initiatives which hold enormous promise for business fraternity and could radically transform the Asian economy. With a view to cater to enhanced demand of exhibitors, new halls have been added, this year. Over 1001 exhibitors are taking part as against 872 in the year 2015, covering a gross area 60000 sq. mtrs. approx (increase of 25% over 2015) while there is an increase of
25% registered in net area from 22500 sq. mtrs. to 28000 sq.mtrs. in Halls 2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,12A,14,15,18 as well as additional Hangars 7A,7B, 26, 27&28. As many as 75 foreign participants from Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Kyrgyz, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and USA. For the first time in Aahar, ITPO has launched a special scheme for promoting ‘New and Young Entrepreneurs’ by offering them space at 50% of the normal tariff. Over 46 such entrepreneurs will be displaying their products and services. The display profile is segregated into three categories, namely, ‘Food Products, Ingredients & Additives’, ‘F & B Equipment’ and ‘House Keeping & Engineering Equipment’. Ancillary activities such as technical seminars and the Culinary Art Competition will provide value addition to the show. Seminars are scheduled on the topics including ‘Food & Safety’, ‘Market Access to SAARC Countries’, ‘Food Processing Industry’, ‘Organic Food Industry’ and ‘Growth of Hotel Industry’. For the first time, the fair will be given extensive visibility through social media
engagement on Twitter, Face book, YouTube, Website, Virtual exhibition available even after the event. Viva Horeca TV has been appointed Online Media Partner. A show daily will be brought out during the fair. For convenience of visitors, a ‘Mobile App’ is being launched. Around 50,000 trade visitors are expected to visit the fair. These include top echelons of the food processing and hospitality industry including CEOs, General Managers, Executive Chefs, Executive House Keepers, Purchase Managers, senior representatives from catering industry and academic institutions, hotel management professionals. Around 300 renowned Chefs will participate in the Culinary Art Competition with live demonstrations. Food Processing Industry is of great importance in terms of income/employment generation, poverty alleviation, improving agri-horticultural productivity, reducing post- harvest losses, availability of better nutrition, export promotion and foreign exchange earnings. India’s food and grocery market is the 6th largest in the world. It is expected to touch US$ 482 billion by 2020. The Indian food processing industry accounts 14% of the
manufacturing GDP. During 2011-15, Indian Exports in this sector increased at a CAGR of 23.3% to USD 21.5 billion. Foreign investment to the tune of USD 6.21 billion was received during 2000-2015. Indian hospitality industry is considered a major attraction for FDI. This sector is growing at a fast pace and clocking CAGR of 14%. An additional requirement of above 2 lakh rooms is estimated in the near future. Foreign investors are tapping this opportunity in a big way. According to DIPP, the amount of FDI inflow in the industry during the last couple of years was more than US$ 6 billion. Tourism accounts for 6.8% of GDP and the 3rd largest foreign exchange earner. Indian hospitality sector is the 2nd largest employer in the country. E-visa facility has been offered to 113 countries by the Govt. of India and this will further expand to 150 countries by March 2016. The business visitors can visit AAHAR (March15-19,2016) from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm, however the fair will remain open for all visitors from 2.00 pm to 6.00 pm on March 19,2016.
