AKIPRESS.COM - IFC is hosting a forum in Bishkek to promote better food safety management practices, part of an effort to support the development of the food processing industry in Europe and Central Asia, and help companies enter new export markets.

The IFC International Food Safety Forum, held in Central Asia for the first time, will bring together over 100 food producers, retailers, industry experts, and government officials. They will discuss food safety best practices, regulations required to ensure consumer safety, and ways small- and medium-sized producers can expand internationally. The event is part of IFC’s efforts to help the region’s agribusinesses reach their potential, creating jobs in the process.

Jesper Kjaer, IFC Senior Manager, said: “Agribusiness is a vital contributor to the economies of Central Asia, which have some of the best growing conditions for fruits and vegetables and, consequently, great potential for increased food-processing and exports to high-end markets. Implementing food safety practices will help firms in Central Asia improve operations and increase sales, spurring agribusiness growth and greater investment in the agricultural sector.”

This marks the fourth year of the IFC International Food Safety Forum. Previous events were held in Belarus, Ukraine, and Georgia.