During a working visit to Tokyo on 3-8 March 2018, Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Economic Affairs Dr. Petra Pana took part in the FOODEX JAPAN 2018 International Food Industry Exhibition, at which Hungarian food industry enterprises were on show with a larger than ever before national pavilion.

The Deputy State Secretary held talks with the representatives of Hungarian enterprises taking part in the expo and with Japanese business partners who distribute Hungarian products. She viewed the stands of Japanese companies who import Hungarian goods.

The promotion of Hungarian mangalitsa pork was given heightened attention at the 43rd Foodex Japan expo, which is being held with the participation of 3350 exhibitors and was visited by some 85,000 food industry representatives. As a result of a long process of preliminary planning, the Japanese Mangalitsa Association was formed, in addition to which a cooperation agreement was signed between the Association of Hungarian Mangalitsa Farmers and Japanese business that will be breeding and distributing mangalitsa pigs in Japan in future.

During her working visit, the Deputy State Secretary for Foreign Economic Affairs also held further talks with Japanese partners concerning foreign trade opportunities, within the framework of which she met with the directors of one of Japan’s largest breweries, Tokyo-based Asahi Group Holdings Ltd. The parties reviewed the possible directions for the company’s future development with relation to Hungarian brewery Dreher Sörgyárak Cls, which became part of the company’s portfolio in 2017. The Deputy State Secretary also held talks with the directors of the Toyoko Inn group with relation to possible investments in Hungary on the part of the hotel chain.

(MTI)