UZPEX Strengthens Uzbekistan’s Dried Fruit Sector Position in Global Markets at SIAL Paris 2026
Paris, France – Eight Uzbek dried fruit producers successfully showcased their products at SIAL Paris 2026, one of the world's largest and most influential international food exhibitions, held from 17 to 21 October in Paris. The participating companies represented Uzbekistan’s dried fruit sector with the support and coordination of Association of Processors and Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables of Uzbekistan (UZPEX). Participation in the exhibition was jointly supported by the International Trade Centre (ITC) through the Trade Promotion East (TPE) Project, funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the Ready4Trade Central Asia: Fostering Prosperity through the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor project, funded by the European Union.
The mission formed part of UZPEX’s continued efforts, together with ITC, to strengthen the international competitiveness of Uzbekistan's dried fruit sector by helping export-oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access new markets, improve product quality, and establish long-term commercial partnerships.
Strong Commercial Results
Participation in SIAL Paris 2026 produced outstanding commercial results for the participating Uzbek companies. During the five-day exhibition, the eight exhibitors established 303 new business contacts, signed export contracts worth USD 6.98 million, and concluded preliminary business agreements valued at more than USD 20.5 million. These achievements confirm the growing competitiveness of Uzbekistan's dried fruit industry and demonstrate the strong international demand for high-quality Uzbek products. They also underline the importance of coordinated sector promotion through UZPEX in strengthening the international presence of Uzbek producers.
The results also surpassed those achieved during previous ITC-supported exhibitions. Compared with ANUGA 2025, the value of signed export contracts increased by approximately 53 percent, from USD 4.55 million to USD 6.98 million. This remarkable growth reflects the cumulative impact of the project's technical assistance, capacity-building activities, branding support, quality improvement initiatives, and continuous participation in leading international trade fairs, supported by UZPEX’s work in bringing sector companies together and facilitating their international market engagement.
Building Export Competitiveness
Preparation for the exhibition began several months in advance. UZPEX worked closely with ITC and participating companies throughout the preparation process. ITC experts supported participating companies in registration, booth design, development of promotional materials, preparation of company profiles for the official exhibition catalogue, and organization of a pre-fair briefing to ensure companies were fully prepared to engage with international buyers.
The Uzbek delegation presented a unified national identity under the "Uzbekistan" brand, with UZPEX contributing to a coordinated sector presence, strengthening the country's visibility at one of the world's premier food exhibitions.
Throughout the exhibition, participating companies promoted a wide range of dried fruits and value-added products while holding business meetings with importers, distributors, wholesalers, food manufacturers, and retail chains from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and other international markets. UZPEX also supported engagement with international partners and discussions on broader opportunities for cooperation with Uzbekistan’s fruit and vegetable processing and export sector.
Beyond Commercial Success
In addition to generating immediate export opportunities, participation in SIAL Paris 2026 delivered substantial long-term benefits. Companies gained valuable insights into global consumer trends, innovative packaging solutions, sustainability requirements, and emerging market opportunities. They also benchmarked their products against international competitors and established contacts with technology providers, packaging suppliers, and potential business partners.
Participating companies emphasized that repeated participation in international exhibitions supported by ITC and facilitated with the involvement of UZPEX has significantly strengthened their export readiness, marketing capabilities, product presentation, and confidence in negotiating with international buyers. Feedback collected after the exhibition confirmed high levels of satisfaction with both the commercial outcomes and the quality of project support.
Looking Ahead
The success of SIAL Paris 2026 demonstrates that international trade fairs remain one of the most effective tools for expanding exports, promoting national products, and increasing the global competitiveness of Uzbek SMEs. For UZPEX, the results also demonstrate the value of coordinated sector representation, stronger cooperation among producers, and direct engagement with international buyers and partners.
Participants expressed strong interest in continuing their cooperation with UZPEX and ITC through future trade fairs, business matchmaking activities, and capacity-building programmes aimed at further diversifying Uzbekistan's export markets.
The achievements in Paris reinforce Uzbekistan's growing reputation as a reliable supplier of high-quality dried fruits and confirm the country's increasing integration into global agri-food value chains. UZPEX will continue supporting this development by promoting Uzbek producers internationally, facilitating sector cooperation, and contributing to the expansion of Uzbekistan’s fruit and vegetable exports in global markets.
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