The 29th Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition InterFood Azerbaijan, held in parallel with the 17th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Exhibition Caspian Agro, concluded its work at the Baku Expo Centre on 17 May. According to foreign experts and investors, the 2024 exhibitions became the birthplace of new business ideas and opened up new opportunities for mutually beneficial international cooperation.
The main event for all participants of the event was undoubtedly the visit of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to the exhibitions. The Presidents' VIP tour of the Exhibition Centre underlined the attention paid to the development of the agricultural sector at the highest level. The heads of state familiarised themselves with the main directions of the presented sectors, paying special attention to the expositions of Belarus and Azerbaijan. Belarus presented its products here for the fifth consecutive year. More than 40 Belarusian companies came to the Azerbaijani capital to present meat, dairy products, confectionery, fish, and alcoholic beverages, as well as fertilisers, pesticides, veterinary products, and agricultural equipment.
The scale of the event was underlined by the growth in the number of exhibitors. This year's exhibitions, featuring a record number of exhibitors, covered all available pavilions and open areas of the Baku Expo Centre. For the first time, the fourth exhibition hall was opened for use, featuring modern infrastructure and stand design. The holding of such a large event as the current exhibitions is a great success and deserves thanks to all those involved in its organisation.
Representatives of international organisations, exhibitors, and journalists noted the relevance and effectiveness of modern achievements presented in various sectors at InterFood Azerbaijan, including livestock, poultry, and agricultural sector with a focus on digitalisation. Undoubtedly, the exhibition contributes to the promotion of these goods and services.
Many visitors appreciated the frozen food and semi-finished products, confectionery and flour products, canned food, meat, and dairy products, fruit and vegetables, juices, tea, healthy food, as well as fruit and vegetable processing equipment presented at the stands. Generous tastings of product samples elicited widespread approval from all visitors.
It should be noted that the participants of InterFood Azerbaijan emphasised the important components of the event: the exhibition helps to identify customers' needs, establish contacts with producers, present novelties, and improve their work. The exhibition not only helps to replenish the customer base but also to establish long-term business relations with various foreign partners and to significantly expand the geography of marketing. According to the debutants, the exhibition is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the country and its people, to get to know the market and to evaluate partner relations.
Many participants regretted that they were not able to present the full range of their products on their stands because there were too many elite exhibitors. However, they promised to come back next year and expand their displays. This can only please the organisers and the visitors.
Another annual farmers' tour was the meeting point for over five hundred private farmers from all corners of Azerbaijan. Experienced farmers and livestock breeders were interested in learning about new technologies and paid close attention to the equipment and modern innovations on display.
As part of the exhibition programme, the annual Golden Shah National Culinary Championship was held. More than 200 chefs competed in meat, fish, and poultry dishes, restaurant desserts, art classes, and other categories.
Traditionally, bilateral business meetings (B2B and B2G) were held as part of the exhibitions. Representatives of domestic and foreign companies met with representatives of state institutions. The International Forum of Agricultural Innovations was also organised in the exhibition's presentation area.
The exhibitions ‘Caspian Agro’ and ‘InterFood Azerbaijan’ are organised by the company Caspian Event Organisers and its partners Caspian Event Management and ICA Events.