The National Agriculture and Food Industry Exhibition (OMÉK) will be held once again this year at the Hungexpo exhibition centre between September 18-22, Minister for Rural Development Sándor Fazekas announced.

The motto of this year’s exhibition is: The best of Hungarian farmland. This year, the exhibition is being organised in the spirit of the country’s radically new agricultural policy, the 10-year National Rural Development Strategy. Everyone who counts will be there, as this exhibition is the largest and most important showcase for the agrarian sector, the Minister said, calling on everyone involved to apply, come to the exhibition and show the world what Hungarian agriculture is capable of.

The OMÉK exhibition, which proudly boasts a 200-year history, is Hungary largest and oldest agriculture expo. It is a showcase for Hungarian agricultural machinery and equipment, high quality Hungarian foods, rare and valuable autochthonous animal and plant breeds, wines, organic products, pálinkas and crafts goods.

One of the primary objectives of this year’s OMÉK expo will again to present and promote traditional, high quality and safe Hungarian foods. This is what permeates the work of the Ministry from day-to-day. We are working so that safe food can find it’s way onto every table, so that can have a healthier diet thanks to the Model Canteen programme, and so that healthy Hungarian foods become available to everyone thanks to farmers’ markets, the Minister added. This is one of the priority programmes of the 10-year national Rural Development Strategy.

The exhibition and market is an excellent opportunity for everyone to present themselves and their products, and to promote the full product range of agriculture and the Hungarian food industry from raw ingredients to processed products. the 2013 OMÉK is also of great importance from an agricultural diplomacy perspective. The exhibition’s guests of honour will be Russia and Kazakhstan. The OMÉK is an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to gain information, forge links, conduct business and clinch deals.

The Ministry of Rural Development will be represented on site throughout the Expo. The Minister, Ministers of State and directors of many background institutions will be holding forums and answering questions, as well as participating in the conferences and professional meetings that will be taking place during the exhibition.