BTIB seeks products for Japanese trade show

Consumers in Japan are constantly seeking new products and ideas and one Cook Islands company or entrepreneur will soon have the opportunity to take advantage of this lucrative market.
The Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) and Pacific Islands Centre are seeking an exporter/manufacturer to participate in the Health Ingredient Japan 2010 Trade Show, slated for Oct. 13-15 in Tokyo. The partner organizations are providing airfares and accommodation for the chosen candidate.
“This is a great opportunity,” said Danny Williams, BTIB’s trade and marketing manager. “The Japanese markets are very good at opening up their doors for anyone and everyone that can meet their supply needs.”
The trade show organizers have crossed noni off their product display list, due to Japan being oversaturated with the juice, while recommended goods include vanilla beans, nuts, seaweed and herbs.
“Literally, it can be anything and everything to do with food manufacturing, food distribution, dietary supplements, additives or nutrition,” said Williams. “For someone who may have produced something new, this would be an opportunity to present their product in whatever form it is. There’s a lot of variety to what the Japanese are willing to purchase or import. Anything and everything – it’s a wide spectrum. That’s the beauty of it.”
Distinctive products are always popular.
“Sometimes it’s not about mass, but rather uniqueness,” said Williams. “Something that can be imported to Japan that could differentiate one restaurant from another by a simple herb or flavour or a product.”
As a by-product of seeking applicants for the trade show, Williams is hoping to talk to those who put up their hands about working together.
“I’d like to encourage that there be more of an integration amongst producers and suppliers locally,” he said. “If they can start to look at working together and collaborate with their efforts, then they can become competitive on the global stage because of sheer numbers.”
The sea cucumber market is a perfect example of how collaboration could equal big bucks.
“I have a supplier from China ready to buy 3000 kilograms a month of sea cucumber,” Williams said. “He’ll buy for the next 20-30 years. There could be a regular income forever and a day out of the Cook Islands, but we’re just not set up for it.”
Anyone interested in being considered to attend the trade show is asked to contact the BTIB office by August 14.

By John Ireland

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