[ EVENTS ] Conxemar 2023, 3-5 October 2023, Vigo
Record attendance, and a glimpse into the future of seafood
The 24th Conxemar International Frozen Seafood Products Exhibition, held from 3 to 5 October in Vigo, Spain, marked a historic edition of the renowned event. The show, which celebrates the global seafood industry, set new records in terms of exhibitor and visitor numbers and also provided a platform for far-reaching discussions on topics crucial to the sector’s future.
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Over the course of the three days a notable increase in the number of visitors was also recorded, surpassing the 2022 edition by 3. Apart from Spain, the primary countries represented by visitors were Portugal, Italy, France, Argentina, and Morocco. The event attracted both institutions and suppliers from dozens of countries including newcomers such as Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, Mauritania, Türkiye, Greece, and the Netherlands made their debuts with country pavilions.
Vast Italian pavilion highlights the importance of sustainable fisheries and aquaculture The fair featured not only national pavilions but also regional ones, such as the Galician pavilion, representing the autonomous community hosting the event, as well as Asturias, among others. Spain, among other EU countries, was also present with a national pavilion. The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food had a 100
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his year the fair gathered suppliers from 45 countries and hosted close to 800 exhibitors—a 13 increase compared to the previous year. The increase in area was achieved by optimising the available space, resulting in an additional 1,300 square meters.
This year, Conxemar, the international frozen seafood products exhibition, attracted a record number of visitors and exhibitors including national pavilions from several countries appearing for the first time.
square metre booth dedicated to the promotion of Spanish seafood. The campaign featured at the stand, named “An Infinite Country for Seafood and Recipes,” emphasised the diversity and culinary richness of Spain. Similarly, Italy, for the second consecutive year, presented a national pavilion encompassing 555 square meters of space, hosting 26 companies from 12 regions, all specialising in the fishing and aquaculture sectors. The pavilion organised activities, such as show-cooking sessions and roundtable discussions, spanning the three days of the fair. These activities explored the latest trends in the consumption of frozen and processed fish products, as well as the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability and food security within modern fisheries and aquaculture.
The pavilion’s event series commenced with a session titled “The fight against the blue crab: Protection of mussel farming and marketing opportunities” to draw attention to the blue crab, an invasive species spreading through the Mediterranean. The Conxemar exhibition will return to Vigo from 1 to 3 October 2024. The challenge for the forthcoming years lies in maintaining the high standards of service while addressing the constraints posed by limited space, an issue already acknowledged by Eloy García Alvariza, President of Conxemar. The 2024 edition marks the 25th anniversary of this event, which over the years has solidified its reputation as a pivotal gathering for the seafood industry.
Conxemar FAO conference highlights the importance of judicious exploitation of marine resources The 11th International Congress Conxemar FAO, a conference jointly organised by Conxemar and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was held a day prior to the trade fair. This year the congress focused on the topic “Blue Transformation,” and was attended by several VIPs including Mr Abel Caballero, Mayor of Vigo; Eloy García Alvariza, President of Conxemar; Mr Alfonso Villares, Conselleiro do Mar; and Ms Carola González, Deputy Director General of Aquaculture, Fisheries Marketing and
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