Serbian Companies Among 1,000 Exhibitors at Prestigious “The Saudi Food Show” in Riyadh

The leading international trade fair “The Saudi Food Show” opened today in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, with 15 Serbian companies from the agri-food sector presenting their export offerings.

Organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and the Development Agency of Serbia, the companies will exhibit within two national pavilions until May 14. The exhibitors include: ITN Group (Belgrade), Master Food (Užice), Master Fruits (Belgrade), Laki (Arilje), Budimka (Požega), Agranela (Valjevo), Agropartner (Lučani), Candy Rush (Belgrade), Frigoonice (Niš), Kinoko (Donji Matejevac), Mixer Produkt (Aleksandrovac), Mirax Agrar (Belgrade), PIP Food Group (Čenej), ZA Fruit (Valjevo), and Podgorina Voće (Osečina).

Serbian Ambassador to Riyadh, Dragan Bisenic, visited the Serbian exhibitors and discussed opportunities for doing business in the Saudi market, its potential, advantages, and challenges.

These companies offer a wide range of products including frozen conventional and organic fruits, fresh apples, organic jams (with and without sugar), juices, freeze-dried, dried and chocolate-coated fruits, dried and frozen mushrooms, confectionery, fruit and creamy bases for the ice cream industry, bakery, pastry and confectionery ingredients, as well as fruit purees and baby food.

The fair features nine industry segments and brings together producers of dairy products, oils, grains, fruits and vegetables, meat and meat products, frozen and ready-made foods, as well as coffee and tea.

This is the third edition of the event, held at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center — the premier business platform connecting exhibitors with representatives of leading retail chains, importers, and distributors.

Program segments are focused on showcasing contemporary trends in the food industry.

Spanning an exhibition space of 244,000 m², the show hosts more than 1,000 exhibitors from 97 countries, and expects over 25,000 professional visitors. Alongside Serbia, other national pavilions feature countries such as Turkey, China, Russia, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Thailand, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Greece, Austria, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Portugal, Singapore, India, Pakistan, Syria, the United States, and Canada.

The fair was officially opened by the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Ibrahim Al-Khoraye.

Exhibitors and visitors have access to the “Tawasul Meetings Programme” platform for organizing business meetings and commercial negotiations, enabling pre-scheduled appointments and direct contact with potential partners.

The Saudi Arabian market is considered one of the most attractive in the Middle East and a significant opportunity for Serbian companies, particularly in the export of frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables. As one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, Saudi Arabia is strategically located at the intersection of three continents and is rich in natural resources.

In an effort to reduce its dependence on oil and diversify its economy, Saudi Arabia has launched the ambitious “Vision 2030” program, which includes a range of economic and financial reforms, strengthening of the private and tertiary sectors, and the promotion of sustainable development.

Saudi Arabia has a young and educated population of over 34 million people, more than 50% of whom are under the age of 25. The country is the largest consumer of dairy products among Gulf states, and total spending on organic, gourmet, and health foods is expected to exceed $27 billion.

Photo: Zorana Delić