Seafood industry professionals from around the world arrive in Barcelona, Spain this week for the 28th edition of Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, ready to reconnect face to face after more than two years apart.
Formerly housed in Brussels, Belgium, the exhibition moves to its new headquarters in Barcelona with the same mission it has always had: to provide “unparalleled access to the most extensive offer of all types of products from the sea as well as equipment and services for the seafood industry”. from all parts of the world,” Liz Plizga, vice president of seafood expos for Diversified Communications, which organizes Seafood Expo Global, told SeafoodSource.
The event continues to be a truly international experience, Plizga said, with seafood suppliers from 76 countries exhibiting at the inaugural edition of the show at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via venue. [Editor’s note: Diversified Communications also owns and operates SeafoodSource.]
With its diverse roster of attendees, exhibitors and speakers, Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global exist as a “place where seafood professionals can effectively maximize business opportunities, collaborate with other key stakeholders to discuss solutions to their most pressing challenges, learn about the latest industry innovations and trends, and find a community,” according to Plizga.
“The pandemic and resulting logistical challenges have underscored the importance of trust and developing strong business relationships to get through tough times, especially in an industry with such an extensive global supply chain. Meeting face-to-face helps strengthen relationships in a way that cannot be replicated online. Our customers miss the human aspects of business. They really enjoyed seeing old friends and finally doing face-to-face business at our previous seafood events,” Plizga added.
The 2022 exhibition brings a lot of new things, including the return of a three-day conference program featuring 20 educational sessions and 65 international experts, as well as new rooms to explore at the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via site. The move to Spain has generated a lot of excitement since Diversified announced in 2019, Plizga noted.
“The announcement of the move to Barcelona fueled excitement, which generated anticipation and growth for the event. It was clear that Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global were reaching beyond the city of Brussels. Barcelona, which already hosts major global events in various industries, offers a modern venue with room for growth, a great selection of hotels and a very pleasant environment in which to build relationships and do business,” she said.
Plizga said the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via is “an updated venue with a convenient layout”.
“Our partners in the city have extensive experience working with complex international events of all sizes, which really eases the planning process. The venue also has ample space to add more educational content and we are bringing back a conference component this year with over 20 sessions featuring global economic outlook for 2022, trade-focused topics and commodity leadership. sea, and seafood sustainability, among other topics,” Plizga said.
Plizga said she hopes exhibitors, speakers and SEG attendees will leave this year’s show with “a sense of community and connection within the global seafood industry, new ideas and inspiration to fuel creativity over the next year and, of course, an abundance of business opportunities through unparalleled global visibility, established connections and strengthened relationships at Seafood Expo Global.
“We would like to thank our customers who have supported us over the past three years. It is with their support that we can be back with such a strong offering for the global seafood community. We really look forward to seeing the industry together again,” said Plizga.
Photo courtesy of Liz Plizga
