Today, the applications to participate in the high-level mission to Singapore and Vietnam opened for registration. Led by Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, a business delegation of senior representatives from the EU agri-food sector will be visiting Singapore and Vietnam from 27 March until 2 April 2022, provided that the sanitary situation allows it.
The high-level mission aims at giving the opportunity to European producers’ representatives to meet not only potential partners from local markets but potentially also representatives of the agri-food sector from the whole region. The mission’s programme will include informative seminars on the characteristics of the local markets and consumer trends, retail and site visits, networking opportunities and a visit to the FHA fair. The programme will take place in Singapore from 27 to 29 March 2022, in Hanoi from 29 to 31 March and in Ho Chi Minh City from 31 March until 2 April. The flights and hotels costs have to be covered by participants but all business events from the official programme will be offered free of charge.
Interested applicants are welcome to register from now until 30 November 2021.
Background
Singapore is an open country that is keen on diversifying its agri-food trading partners and has engaged with a number of EU countries to source new products. The EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (FTA) provides for zero tariff on all agri-food products. Meanwhile, although Vietnam is still a developing economy, it is projected to have strong economic growth in the coming years. It is going through a process of urbanisation and change in tastes and lifestyle, so consumption of diverse agri-food products is expected to increase across the board for most product categories. The entry into force of the EU-Vietnam FTA on 1 August 2020 allows to level the playing field over time and give EU exporters an advantage.
An important element of the visit to Singapore will be the opening of the Food & Hotel Asia (FHA) Food & Beverage 2022 fair where the EU will be present with its own pavilion, focused on organic foods. FHA is considered an agri-food gateway to the ASEAN region, with 1750 exhibitors and 55,000 visitors from 100 countries or regions present at its latest edition in 2018.
