Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, along with First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and their daughter Leyla Aliyeva, attended the 19th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Exhibition and Forum - Caspian Agro Week - and the 31st Azerbaijan International Food Industry Exhibition - InterFood Azerbaijan at the Baku Expo Center.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov briefed the president and the First Lady on the exhibitions. This year, the exhibitions attract 447 companies from 45 countries, with Brazil, Ethiopia, and Northern Cyprus debuting national pavilions. The exhibitions also host national stands from Germany, Belarus, Brazil, South Korea, Georgia, Italy, Indonesia, and the Netherlands.
Caspian Agro Week covers sectors like agricultural machinery, irrigation, packaging, logistics, e-agriculture, and innovative technologies. It features "Smart Agro" segments, including artificial intelligence, smart villages, and drones, alongside "green agro" sections. InterFood Azerbaijan showcases food industry products, beverages, and food technologies.
This year marks a transition to the 'Caspian Agro Week' concept, incorporating conferences, forums, and farm visits. President Aliyev and the First Lady visited Azersun Holding's stand, which operates on the 'farm-to-table' principle, providing significant employment in the regions with modern agricultural solutions.
Agro Dairy, a leading agricultural and food company in Azerbaijan, boasts a strong agro-industrial ecosystem, ensuring quality from raw material production to consumer delivery. Companies like Germany's Holmer, Italy's New Holland, and Russia's PhosAgro also participate, showcasing their agricultural machinery and products.
Local entities like Azera Holding, Favo Agro, and the Ministry of Agriculture contribute to promoting the 'Made in Azerbaijan' brand, with exhibitions serving as platforms for showcasing Azerbaijan's agricultural and food production potential. Over 500 farmers from 51 regions will gain insights into industrial innovations and best practices.
The exhibitions are supported by organizations such as the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan, Small and Medium Business Development Agency, and international bodies like the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Participating companies include Spain's Industrias David, Israel's AFI Projects, and local firms such as Amofresh and METAK.
Iran's Khazar Electric and Absheron Olive Garden LLC are among the participants, with the latter producing olive oil and table olive products. Shirvan Agro and Shirvan Wines also showcase their capabilities at the event.
Belarus presents a wide range of food products, while Brazil features agricultural goods, including meat and coffee. Indonesia highlights coffee and confectionery products, while the AFAZ initiative sees participation from several African countries.
The exhibitions conclude with an outdoor display of agricultural machinery from various international companies. As the region's largest exhibitions in the agricultural and food sectors, Caspian Agro Week and InterFood Azerbaijan are pivotal for fostering international collaboration and innovation, contributing to the agri-food sector's growth and development.