The organisers of SIAL China 2020 will be proceeding ahead with the food innovation exhibition which is scheduled to run from 13-15 May 2020 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Shanghai, China. The decision to move forward with the planned show dates came after extensive consultation with exhibitors and the local partners. Keeping the health and safety of all involved as a top priority, the exhibition this year will aim to support the revitalisation of the Asia-Pacific food and beverage industry, as health experts in China believe that the COVID-19 outbreak will be under controlled by late April.
At a government press conference on Feb 27, Zhong Nanshan, head of the National Health Commission’s team investigating COVID-19 outbreak, said: “With the strong measures taken by the central government and the joint efforts made by medics across the country, we’re confident that the epidemic will be basically under control by the end of April.”
According to the National Development and Reformation Commission of China, as of Feb 22, 77.7% of the industrial and commercial enterprises in Shanghai have resumed work, including 95% of central government-owned enterprises, 93% of multinational enterprises, and 80% of state-owned enterprises. Earlier, the Ministry of Finance of China announced reduced “provisional” tax rates for 859 imported items to promote foreign trade and meet domestic demand, over 80 of which were food and beverage related. These actions have shown the determination of Shanghai, and all of China, to control the outbreak and support the recovery of the economy and daily life.
Renaud Hamaide, president of Comexposium, organiser of SIAL China 2020, said: “Our role is to serve our industry communities, across sectors, and geographies. Therefore, we’ve listened to the feedback of our customers, and in the majority of instances, our exhibitions will continue as planned.
“As COVID-19 runs its course, we will remain vigilant although optimistic, and agile when and where necessary. We aim to continue doing the same thing we’ve been doing since our first event, Foire de Paris, opened in 1904, bringing people together to create connections.”
SIAL China will follow the guidance from the local government, and work closely with the venue and partners to be prepared for any developments. Onsite precautions will also be implemented to ensure the health and safety of exhibitors and visitors.
