Opening Remarks by Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling at the Food & Hospitality Asia (FHA) 2026 Opening Ceremony

Mr Ian Roberts,

Senior Vice President, Asia, Informa Markets

Mr Diego Canga Fano,

Acting Deputy Director-General

Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission

Mr Artis Bertulis,

Ambassador-Designate

European Union to Singapore

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, 

A very good morning. 

To the buyers, exhibitors and partners who have travelled from across Asia, Europe, Australia, and beyond, a very warm welcome to Singapore. 

Introduction  

1. It is my pleasure to join you once again at Food & Hospitality Asia 2026. I am delighted to be back, having attended FHA in 2024.

2. This year’s edition is particularly significant. The F&B and HoReCa (Hotel, Restaurant, and Catering) editions of FHA are once again brought under one roof. All 10 halls of the Singapore Expo have been filled up for this event. This significant gathering opens a new chapter for FHA, Asia’s leading food and hospitality trade fair. It connects participants and companies across the value chain, from manufacturers and food service solution providers, to hospitality groups and retailers from around the world.

3. Events like FHA bring the excitement and dynamism of in-person interactions and meetings. While market research and product comparisons can be done online, successful partnerships are often struck face to face.  There is nothing like understanding business needs and seeing products firsthand. This is why Singapore continues to invest in platforms like FHA. 

4.      Amid global developments – from geopolitical shifts to climate pressures – three priorities remain important for Singapore’s food and hospitality sectors. We must stay globally connected, advance sustainability, and pursue innovation. Let me elaborate. 

Stay Globally Connected 

5.      First, we must stay connected to global markets. 

6.      Platforms like FHA help businesses build networks, enter new markets and deepen ties with existing partners. From 2022 to 2025, close to 200 companies exhibited under the Singapore Pavilion, securing $140 million in sales through their participation at FHA. 

7.      This momentum continues to grow. We expect to see 80,000 attendees from 115 countries this year, with the Hosted Buyers Programme nearly tripling to 800 buyers. I am especially heartened to see strong representation from our regional partners. 

8.      We know that expanding into new markets requires more than outreach. It is vital for businesses to also understand local tastes, dietary preferences and cultural habits. This is why Enterprise Singapore’s “Flavours for the World” exhibition offers three multi-sensorial, interactive experiences: 

                                i.            First, visitors can sample the dishes developed by the Singapore Chefs’ Association, which used insights from Grab’s consumer ordering data to identify the popular cuisine preferences, trending formats and flavour profiles across Southeast Asia;

                               ii.            Second, at the KH Roberts’ flavour bar, visitors can explore how familiar flavours may be adapted for export markets; and

                             iii.            Third, visitors can receive tailored product recommendations through personality profiling, matched to their preferences.

9.      These initiatives support better buyer-supplier matching by showing exhibitors how to adapt products for different markets and making it easier for buyers to identify Singapore suppliers who can customise solutions for their specific market needs. 

Advance Sustainability 

10.  Our second priority – we must advance sustainability. 

11.  Climate change and food security challenges are reshaping how food is produced and traded. Stricter environmental standards and new sourcing requirements now make green practices necessary for export competitiveness. The evolving situation in Middle East has also added to these challenges, increasing costs and disrupting access to some goods. Companies that act early will be better positioned to maintain and secure market access, manage risks, and build resilience. 

12.  Against this backdrop, I am pleased to announce the launch of the refreshed Sustainability Playbook for Food Manufacturers by Enterprise Singapore. Building on the 2023 edition, the refreshed Playbook offers companies a clearer roadmap to strengthen their sustainability efforts. It does so through indicators and targets that guide progress. 

13.  The Playbook focuses on three key areas: 

                                i.            One, enhance market positioning by enabling companies to better meet sustainability-related export requirements, such as emissions reporting and buyers’ expectations, leading to stronger market access and credibility.

                               ii.            Second, optimising resource efficiency by offering practical suggestions to help businesses reduce energy, water and material costs.

                             iii.            Third, unlocking circular economy value by creating new opportunities through recycling, reuse and valorisation. 

14.  Let me share one example. Prefer, a local foodtech company, transforms food side-streams into bean-free coffee and cocoa-free chocolate. Building on consumers’ increased preference for sustainability, Prefer has secured deals with partners in Singapore, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. This demonstrates how sustainability can spark international growth while also strengthening resilience in food production. 

Pursue Innovation 

15.  Our third priority - we must continue to pursue innovation to differentiate ourselves in the highly competitive market. 

16.  With innovation, Singapore can stay ahead of the curve. Today, many countries are ageing rapidly.  As demographic trends and dietary needs change, we will continue to support companies in developing market-ready solutions and capturing emerging opportunities. These include products such as elderly nutrition and functional foods that meet different health needs. 

17.  The recently concluded “Sip & Savour” Accelerator Programme is one example. Companies were guided through product development based on US market trends and real-world testing. This culminated in a well-received showcase at the Natural Products Expo West in March.

18.  Some of these innovative products are featured at the Singapore Pavilion today. An example is the ‘Gutti’ product line developed by Annabella Patisserie. It features high-protein, high-fibre prebiotic bars, and a prebiotic fibre drink mix to support gut health. We see Singapore companies turning health trends into commercially viable products that meet global demand. 

Conclusion  

19.  Ladies and gentlemen, even in an increasingly uncertain global environment, our direction remains clear. We must stay globally connected, advance sustainability, and pursue innovation. If we do these well, Singapore will continue to be a trusted partner in food and hospitality. 

20.  To our international buyers, I encourage you to explore partnerships and opportunities with our Singapore companies. The connections you gain here at FHA 2026 can open doors to new markets and more customers. You will find an exciting, wide range of innovative, sustainable, export-ready products that can give your business that competitive edge. 

21.  Finally, let me congratulate Informa on the launch of this mega-event. I wish all participants a successful and fruitful time at FHA 2026.  Thank you.