SALIMA TECHNOLOGY
7.-9.2. 2023
Fair for food industry and gastronomy
SALIMA celebrated its 40th birthday
The first Salima trade fair was launched in Brno on 25 February 1974. Forty years later, the celebration of the anniversary has become part of the inaugural evening of the 29th edition of the food fair and wishes of every success were conveyed by Marian Jurečka, Minister of Agriculture, Food Chamber President Miroslav Toman and other distinguished guests.
All present were initially welcomed by the CEO of the Brno Exhibition Centre Jiří Kuliš, who briefly recalled the history of the launched projects. The International Fair of Packaging and Packaging Technology EMBAX was first held in 1969, when it was separated from the International Engineering Fair as the first specialized branch show. Salima was the second in order about five years later, when it was separated from the International Fair of Consumer Goods.
Jiří Kuliš thanked the Ministry of Agriculture for long-term support that has been granted for 40 years, the ministry being a partner and providing patronage to the food fair. That is why the opening speech was delivered by the Minister of Agriculture Marian Jurečka, who said among other things: "It is my great honour to be present at the opening of the jubilee Salima fair. I wish all exhibitors to see their expectations fulfilled, manage to develop business cooperation, establish new contacts and to present their products well. I am fully aware that the Ministry of Agriculture plays a key role in making sure that our agriculture and food industry flourish. Right now we have a great responsibility for how we set the common agricultural policy and what will be the future direction of the sector in the Czech Republic, because there is no food industry without agriculture and vice versa."
Poland as a partner country of the exhibition was represented at the opening by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Krystyna Gurbiel, heading the numerous Polish delegation. On behalf of the Polish Minister of Agriculture Stanislav Kalemba she thanked the Czech Ministry of Agriculture and the management of the Brno Exhibition Centre for the invitation of Poland as a partner country of the Salima fair and stressed that the Czech Republic was one of their biggest partners in trade of agricultural and food products. "The Salima fair is one of the most important ones in the region. Our large participation is the best proof of how important this fair is for the Republic of Poland. „We have a large Polish stand and I cordially invite you to visit it; and a total of more than 50 Polish companies are exhibiting. I want to wish the representatives of Poland, but also all other attendees to spend a pleasant time in Brno and may the fair bring them a lot of new opportunities and contracts," said Krystyna Gurbiel and finally thanked for the very warm welcome to the Polish delegation and all of the Polish exhibitors.
On behalf of the Food Chamber of the Czech Republic, the General Partner of the Fair, president of the Chamber Miroslav Toman greeted all those present and said: "I am very happy that this show has been in existence for forty years, and I believe that it will continue as successfully, as will also thrive the Czech food industry and the Czech agriculture. I am very pleased that Czech producers are loyal to this exhibition and that also our consumers are slowly returning to Czech food, because this healthy nationalism is needed in my opinion. I wish all exhibitors to thrive not only here at the show, but also in their production."
The opening evening included the presentation of the Golden Salima awards to the best exhibits. The chairman of the evaluation committee and the General Director of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Martin Klanica informed that sixteen exhibits were proposed from more than 50 food products and eight of them won the Golden Salima. He thanked the members of the evaluation committees for perfect and professional work and stressed that any such award helps the product to be better placed in the market. The other two Gold Salima awards were presented to exhibited technology. Information on the award-winning products can be found here.
The opening ceremony guests also included the Chairman of the Agricultural Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament Jaroslav Faltýnek, Director of the State Agricultural Intervention Fund Martin Šebestyán, a Hungarian delegation led by Deputy Secretary of State of the Ministry of Rural Development of Hungary Katalin Tóth, Delegation of the European Food Safety Authority, headed by Stephan Bronzwaer, head of the Advisory Forum and the Scientific Cooperation Department, delegation of the European Commission Directorate General for Health and Consumers, led by assistant Director General Tim Gumbel, members of the diplomatic corps, university rectors, presidents of chambers of commerce, professional unions and associations.
