The Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The ribbon was cut by 46 professionals in the flower and agriculture industry, including the director of Reed Exhibitions, the Major of Chiba (where the exhibition is held), ambassadors from Kenya, Ethiopia, Thailand and Taiwan and large Japanese garden centers, flower auctions, supermarkets.
50% decrease domestic production
According to several exhibitors, the domestic flower production will decrease by 50% in five years time. "Many growers will retire and the younger generation does not want to take over the business," explains a Japanese grower. Therefore, there will be a shortage of flowers and more imports are necessary. "Currently, some Japanese companies are already planning to increase their imports," says an Ethiopian grower.
Upper left: Carlos Neveda and Carlos Sanchez of Ecuanros, these Ecuadorian rose growers want to expand their export market in Japan. They also won the Award for Overseas Grower for their Deep Purple rose. Upper right: Taiwanese orchid grower Lance Chuang of Hermes Orchids, he already exports to Japan. He is at the show to increase the brand awareness of his orchids. Bottom left: Kazuyo Asayama of ATJ inc. representing Zena Roses Kenya, and Peter Barnhoor of Afri Flora, a rose farm in Ethiopia, are at the exhibition to discover the possibilities to export to Japan.
Opportunities Ethiopian flowers
This increase of imports offers opportunities for flower growers to start, or increase, their exports to Japan. Ethiopia for example, according to a counsellor of the embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Japan can become a large export market for Ethiopia. "Since April, there has been a direct air connection between Ethiopia and Japan. These are passenger flights only, but soon the cargo flights will follow," he says. Also for Kenyan growers there are opportunities to increase their exports to Japan. "The Japanese people like high quality flowers and Kenya is able to deliver this quality. However, in contrast to Ethiopia, Kenya does not have a direct connection with Japan; the flowers need to go through Dubai. This makes it more difficult," says a trade assistant of the embassy of the Republic of Kenya.
Three day event
The show is concurrently held with the Gardex, Tool Japan and Agri World and will last till October 16. 1,760 companies are exhibiting at these four shows. The IFEX only has 580 exhibitors. In total, they expect to welcome 50,000 visitors.
FloralDaily.com
The FloralDaily.com editorial team is also present at the trade fair to make a full photo report, which will be published on Monday 19 October.
For more information
IFEX Show Management
18F Shinjuku-Nomura Bldg., 1-26-2 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 163-0570, Japan
T: +81-3-3349-8519
F:+81-3-3349-8530
Email: ifex-eng@reedexpo.co.jp
www.ifex.jp