The Council of Indian Food Trade (CIFT) continued its association with UzFood in 2026, marking its third consecutive year as the Exclusive India Partner at the exhibition.
This year’s edition was particularly significant as UzFood completed 25 years, establishing itself as one of the most important platforms for the food, beverage, and food packaging industry in Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asian region. The scale of the exhibition reflected its growing importance, with over 550 companies from 26 countries participating and an estimated 15,000+ business visitors attending the show.
The India Pavilion, organised by CIFT, saw participation from more than 20 Indian companies, covering an area of over 250 sq. mtr. The pavilion presented a strong mix of Indian food products and generated encouraging business interest throughout the event.
Among the participating companies were Allanasons, Panicle WorldWide, Al-Aayat Food Expo, Shiv Shakti Associates, Rustam Foods, Mirha Exports, Al-Dua/Al-Hamd, India Frozen Foods, Marhaba Frozen and many more, all of whom actively engaged with buyers, distributors, and retail chains during the exhibition.
One of the key takeaways this year was the wider international buyer presence. Along with leading retail chains from Uzbekistan, there was notable participation from Russian retail companies, indicating growing opportunities for Indian exporters in the region.
During the exhibition, CIFT was also recognised for its continued support and partnership with UzFood and was presented with a Long-Term Partnership Award, acknowledging its consistent efforts over the years.
Sharing his perspective, Ashwani Kumar Thakur, Chairman, Council of Indian Food Trade, noted that the momentum for Indian food products across the CIS region is clearly on the rise. “The response we have seen at UzFood 2026 reinforces our belief that Indian exporters are well-positioned to expand in this market. We are confident that in 2027, we will not only double our member participation but also significantly scale up India’s presence, as demand for Indian products across CIS countries continues to grow steadily,” he said.
Encouraged by this strong response and emerging opportunities, CIFT is now preparing to expand its footprint in the 2027 edition, with plans to increase pavilion size and facilitate greater participation from Indian exporters.
