DUSHANBE , November 24 Asia-Plus - Some 15 companies are participating in the specialized international exhibition of food industry formally titled “Interfood Tajikistan 2006” that opened in Dushanbe Thursday, November 23.    

Deputy Agriculture Minister, Sabohat Sanginova, telling inaugural ceremony noted that the exhibition is an efficient way for companies to get to Tajikistan ’s market.   Companies from other countries have an opportunity to get acquaint with the local producers and new, dynamically developing Tajik market, according to her.

The exhibition staged by ITE Group Plc (UK) and ITECA OSIYO ( Tajikistan ) runs through November 25.   Within three days the exhibition is expected to be attended by over 5,000 professional visitors from Central Asia , CIS and other foreign countries.

Odil Sangov, the deputy head of Tajikistan ’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI), told journalists that Russia , Kazakhstan , Ukraine and India are participating in the exhibition.   Some 15 companies from these countries and Tajikistan have put on display their achievements in food industry in the fair in Dushanbe .   “More foreign companies were supposed to participate in the exhibition but unfortunately for transportation problems not all of them could arrive in Tajikistan ,” Sangov said.

Tajikistan is represented by Khurokvori (food production) and Tojikmatlubot (consumers’ union) in the fair.   “Participating in the exhibition, they may get acquaint with new processing technologies,” Sangov said.    

The main sections of the exhibition include: foodstuffs; alcoholic and soft drinks, tea and coffee; food ingredients, supplements, spices; frozen food and semi-prepared foods; food processing equipment; equipment for bars, restaurants, hotels and supermarkets; refrigerators and trading equipment; agricultural sector; tobacco section and packing and packaging equipment.

According to CCI, Russia has accounted for 30 percent of products displayed in the exhibition and Kazakhstan for 23 percent.  

ITE is one of the world’s leading organizers of specialized international exhibitions and conferences within the territory of CIS countries, Eastern Europe and Turkey .   Its portfolio includes such well-known trade shows in food sector as: WorldFood Moscow, InterFood St. Petersburg, WorldFood Ukraine , InterFood Azerbaijan , WorldFood Kazakhstan , AstanaFood, Ingredients Russia , etc.