More than 67,000 visitors poured into Parma, Italy – up 12 percent – to attend the 17th edition of Cibus and visit the more than 2,700 exhibitors.
The number of foreign buyers was up as well: a total of 12,000, which is 1,000 more than in 2012 (the show is hosted every other year). There were 400 more exhibits this year than in 2012 as well, according to Cibus.
“A success we have hoped and worked for,” said Elda Ghiretti, Cibus brand manager. “The presence of more foreign buyers is the result of Cibus Market Check (initiative involving Italian food companies traveling abroad to meet foreign distributors) and of our cooperation with other international food fairs. The strategy aimed at the export market has been an exclusive Cibus initiative. We also invested a considerable amount to ensure the presence of key international buyers.”
The director of Fiere di Parma, Franco Boni, concurred: “Our efforts have finally paid off. Italian food companies show an increasing confidence in further export growth.”
Cibus took place at a time when the Italian food sector realized a slight recovery in domestic demand in the first months of 2014, combined with an overall optimism in the country and great expectations for the upcoming EXPO2015 (World’s Fair to be held in Milan in 2015).
The message from the show this year is clear, Cibus executives said: the recovery in the Italian market is happening, proven by the launch of hundreds of new products, and it is possible to invest more in export activities.
A study presented during Cibus showed that the Italian export market could potentially grow from 26 to 70 billion euros in the next 10 years. Financial and governmental support to Italian companies and the fight against counterfeiting abroad will be key to ensure sustainable results, Cibus reported. Both the Italian Minister of Agricultural Politics Maurizio Martina, and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calenda have committed to support the initiatives, according to Cibus.
