OREANDA-NEWS. The 16th International Exhibition of food products and drinks “World Food Moscow” is taking place at "Expocentr" September 18-21, 2007, the Exhibition's information department reports.

This exhibition is by right considered to be one of the most important events in the Russian food market lately. This year more than 1300 companies from 53 countries are participating in the exhibition. In comparison with last year, the exhibition has grown by 3000 sq m. This year, for the first time, the exhibition occupies Pavilion 8 accommodating the Fruits and Vegetables Section of the exhibition.

The overall space of World Food 2007 is more than 45000 sq m. For the convenience of exhibitors and visitors of World Food Moscow, the exhibition is divided into 12 sections, including Meat and Poultry, Fish and Seafood, Frozen and Semi-Finished Products, Dairy Products, Oil/Fats and Sauces, Drinks, Confectionary and Bakery, Grocery and Snacks, Tea and Coffee, Fruits and Vegetables, Healthy Food and Equipment for Catering Facilities.

International presence at the exhibition is reaching 40%. Thirty two countries are represented by national pavilions, including Philippines, Chile, Cyprus and Hungary, which are presenting national pavilions for the first time. National pavilions of Argentina, Belgium, USA, Italy, Brazil, Germany, Norway and Denmark are constant participants of World Food Moscow. Altogether more than 600 various food products from all over the world are presented.

Russian exhibitors include such companies as "Alokozaj Ti", "Belgorodskie Dairy Products", "Vernost Kachestvu", "VeresFood", "Gipar", "Glavproduct", "Globus", "Desan", "Europrodservice", "Zolotoj Terem", "MBKK Kolomenskoe", "Korkunov", "Kuban-Agro", "Kuhnja bez granic", "Molmjasoprodukt", "Mortadel", "Korona PK", "Prodgamma", "Protvinsky Meat Factory", "Rostagroexport", "Ruzskaja KF", "Russian Tea Company", 'Russkoe Pole", "Russkoe More", "SDS Ekom", 'Severnaya Company", "Souz Molproduct', "Uvelka", "Fis Development", "Hame Foodz", "Cheremushki", "Chistaja Liniya", "Exclusive Product", "Efko", "Yug Rusi", Yakovlevskaja Tea Factory and many others.

In the special zone of innovation products and technologies “Innovation Showcase” at Pavilion 6, visitors of the exhibition are having an opportunity to get acquainted with latest achievements in Russian and international food markets.

International Tasting Contest “Product of the Year” is a traditional event within the exhibition. This Contest is organised by the Central Tasting Commission of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia and is run one month before the exhibition.

For the first time Russian Agricultural Outlook Forum is being held alongside the exhibition. The key goal of the forum is systematic discussion of trends and development prospects of the agricultural sector, both in general and in each particular component of the food chain: agriculture, processing, wholesale and retail trade.The Forum is dedicated to such issues as development prospects and forecasts of the world markets of agricultural products, key trends of the world trade and agricultural policy, trends and development prospects of the demand for agricultural and food products.

The Forum is to become the most representative ground and a starting point for annual meetings of representatives of Russian agricultural business, top managers of agricultural complex and market analysts to exchange opinions and elaborate middle-term forecasts for the adjustment of Russian agricultural sector and overview of international experience.Leading representatives of Russian agricultural and food business, top managers of ministries, agencies and associations and analysts of the Russian and international markets are making presentations on the Forum.

The exhibition and the forum are organised by ITE and are held under the support of the Ministry of Agriculture of the RF, the Ministry of Agriculture of Moscow Region, the Government of Moscow, the Government of Moscow Region, Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Moscow Association of Entrepreneurs and APK ASSAGROS.