Saudifood Show and Saudifood Manufacturing Open in Jeddah with Broad Participation

   Jeddah, September 28, 2026, SPA -- The Saudifood Show and Saudifood Manufacturing 2026 exhibitions opened Monday at Jeddah Superdome, drawing broad local and international participation.
   Held in strategic partnership with the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), the exhibitions bring together officials and industry specialists from across the food and beverage sector.
   Italy's Consul General in Jeddah Marco Bocchi inaugurated Italy's participation at the two events, with 37 Italian companies taking part — 17 showcasing food and agri-food products, and 20 presenting the latest technologies and solutions for food manufacturing, packaging, and wrapping.
   Italian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Carlo Baldocci said Italy and Saudi Arabia share rapidly deepening ties, with future opportunities extending beyond trade to building sustainable, long-term partnerships. Bocchi added that the Italian participation lets visitors discover Italian products and regions, highlighting cultural ties between the two countries in food and hospitality.
   Trade data show Italy's agri-food and beverage exports to Saudi Arabia approached SAR2.2 billion in the first 11 months of 2025, up 7.7% year-on-year. Total bilateral trade reached around SAR45.3 billion in 2025, with Italian exports to Saudi Arabia standing at approximately SAR27.8 billion.
   Director of the Italian Trade Agency office for Riyadh and Kuwait Simona Autuori said Saudi Arabia is a priority market for Italy, and that the 37 participating companies reflect an integrated presence across the food sector's value chain.
   The events are held as part of Italy's annual "Week of Italian Cuisine in the World" initiative, following UNESCO's inclusion of Italian cuisine on its Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2025.
   The Saudifood Show 2026 has moved to Jeddah, now co-located with Saudifood Manufacturing 2026, offering a combined platform spanning food products, ingredients, and manufacturing technologies.
   -- SPA