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MEXICO CITY, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Mexico will hold its first ever food trade show in December in a bid to boost the country's agricultural exports, the Ministry of Agriculture announced Thursday.
"Mexico Alimentaria 2016 Food Show," to be held on Dec.8-11 at Mexico City's Centro Banamex exposition center, will feature some 600 producers in the areas of agriculture, cattle ranching and fishing, as well as organic products, alcoholic beverages and other goods.
"We have to show what we are. There are a lot of people here in Mexico who don't know about the potential of Mexican agriculture," Minister of Agriculture Jose Calzada said at a press conference.
The event hopes to draw a total of 50,000 visitors and generate a billion U.S. dollars in business between producers and investors from North America, Asia and Europe.
Mexico, currently the world's 12th largest agricultural producer, wants to boost its food exports by 3 to 4 percent, said the minister, adding the country expects the sector to bring in 30 billion dollars in revenue this year.
The trade show is an "important tool all countries have, but that Mexico had not used in a significant way to position ourselves in the international food market," said Calzada.
Mexico's 93-billion-dollar agroindustrial sector employs more than 6 million people, according to the ministry.
