IFA Invited to Participate in “Food Industry Going Global to Southeast Asia” Seminar
On the afternoon of February 4, 2026, the “Food Industry Going Global to Southeast Asia” seminar, hosted by the Economic Promotion Bureau of Shunde District, Foshan City, was successfully held at the “Taste of Shunde · Culture & Lifestyle Center.” Our association was invited to participate, joining hands with the Shunde Pre-made Food Industry Development Federation, the Shunde Kitchenware Industry Chamber of Commerce, and other institutions to build an overseas exchange platform for nearly 30 food enterprise representatives.
At the start of the seminar, Han Zhibang, Member of the Party Leadership Group of Shunde District Economic Promotion Bureau and President of the Shunde Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Shunde CCPIT), said in his opening speech that Shunde’s pre-made food industry has a solid foundation and strong momentum, with over 100 enterprises currently operating in the sector. In 2025, Shunde’s pre-made food exports reached RMB 2.7 billion, with the Southeast Asian market showing particularly strong potential..
He stressed that food exports involve high-standard certification requirements such as Halal, and advised enterprises to accurately seize market opportunities and prepare compliance layouts and strategic deployments in advance. Going forward, the District Economic Promotion Bureau and CCPIT will continue working with industry associations to provide diversified support — including trade show matchmaking and market information updates — to help “the Taste of Shunde” reach the international stage.
In the thematic sharing session, our association’s representative gave a presentation titled “Analysis of Indonesia and Malaysia Food Markets and Pathways for Shunde Enterprises Going Global,” systematically introducing the market overview, consumption trends, and competitive landscape of the two countries. The session pointed out that Indonesia has a population of over 270 million with strong consumer demand, while Malaysia’s deep-rooted Chinese cultural heritage provides broad market space for categories such as Chinese pre-made dishes and specialty seasonings.
In addition, the seminar presented enterprises with key trade show opportunities for 2026, providing high-quality platforms for them to “go global”:
Indonesia International Food & Beverage Trade Fair (IIFB) & Indonesia International Food & Hospitality Expo (MoreFood Expo): To be held at Jakarta International Expo from May 7–10, 2026.
25th Malaysia International Food & Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB): To be held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre from July 15–17, 2026. UFI-approved, it is one of the largest specialized food and beverage exhibitions in Malaysia.
The seminar also analyzed practical strategies from successful enterprise cases, covering product selection & positioning, channel cooperation, and localized operations, drawing a clear “Going Global Roadmap” for enterprises.To address the compliance and market access issues of great concern to enterprises, a special session was arranged for a professional interpretation of Southeast Asia Halal certification systems.
Song Xin, Overseas Halal Manager of Guangzhou Bi-An Information Technology Co., Ltd., emphasized that obtaining Indonesia’s official “Purple Label” Halal certification is not only a mandatory requirement for market entry, but also a crucial step in building brand trust and accessing the 2 billion Muslim consumer market. The seminar detailed the application process, required documentation, and one-stop compliance support services, helping enterprises mitigate trade risks and efficiently advance their overseas market presence.
This seminar, through precise matchmaking, built an effective international business opportunity platform for member enterprises, serving as a concrete demonstration of the Association’s role in promoting trade and investment cooperation between Guangdong and other countries. Its focus on the Southeast Asian market also aligns with the proactive expansion of Guangdong enterprises in the region in recent years.
Going forward, our association will leverage its overseas resource advantages to organize more market development activities, helping “the Taste of Shunde” reach the international stage. If you are interested in exhibitions such as Indonesia IIFB and Malaysia MIFB, please contact the Association Secretariat for detailed information and consultation.