Food exporters aim for US$130 mln in orders at int`l exhibition

SEOUL, March 3 (Yonhap) -- South Korean companies will try to win US$130 million
worth of export orders at an international food exhibition in Japan, the
government said Tuesday.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said 115 companies are
attending the Japan Foodex 2009 that kicked off earlier in the day in Chiba
Prefecture, just outside Tokyo. During last year's exhibition, local food
companies and agriculture exporters secured $120 million worth of orders.
Foodex is the largest food and beverage fair in Asia and drew 2,412 companies
from 65 countries in 2008. Companies attend the annual event to make vital
business contacts and sign deals.
"This year's exhibition is important because it could help local companies boost
exports that show signs of being affected by the global economic crisis," said
Byun Sang-moon, an official with the ministry's food industry promotion team.
South Korea's agricultural and other food exports grew 17.2 percent on-year to
top a record $4.4 billion in 2008, but contracted 12 percent in January despite
favorable exchange rates that make locally made goods cheaper abroad.
Byun added that to reassure sanitation-conscious Japanese businesses and
consumers, local companies and the government will show the latest advances in
quality control that allows produce and goods to be easily tracked from the farm
to food processing plants and retailers.
The Japanese market is attractive since it imports roughly $50 billion worth of
food and agricultural products on an annual basis. Last year, Japan purchased 33
percent of South Korean farm goods, fisheries products and food valued at $1.4
billion.
In 2008, South Korea's agriculture and fisheries-related exports reached $4.4
billion, with Seoul trying to push up the total to $5.3 billion this year.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)