Hall 4, Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre
Madame, Monsieur. C’est un grand plaisir de pouvoir vous rendre visite au pavillon des Etats-Unis à l’édition du SIAL 2014.
I would like to extend a warm welcome and congratulate the 146 U.S. exhibitors at this world-renowned food and beverage trade show. I understand that during the course of the five days of this exhibition, over 150,000 buyers, especially from greater Europe and the Middle East, will make their way here to discover the latest in food innovation.
I’m very pleased to see such a large contingent of U.S. companies interested in the French and other European markets. I’ve just visited the three pavilions where you are exhibiting and am very impressed by the variety of U.S. food and beverage products that are on display. It is equally impressive to see the creative effort that you have invested in organizing, planning and exhibiting here — at SIAL 2014.
The range of products you have put on display represents the diversity of your industry, and our culinary traditions: From pasta from New York City to organic products from Colorado to dried fruit from California, I am proud to see such an array of delicious U.S. products in this sophisticated international marketplace.
I think all of you are aware of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership or “TTIP” negotiations between the U.S. and the EU. TTIP is intended to make it easier for you to export your products to Europe and for European companies to get their products to the United States. This is an historic attempt to renew the trade ties between the Unites States and Europe, something that is critical not just from a trade and economic standpoint, but also as part of maintaining the strong cultural and strategic ties that have always existed between the United States and Europe, and especially with France.
I want to assure you that we at Embassy Paris fully support you at this show and in your other efforts to promote the sale of U.S. food products and beverages in the French and European markets.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in what I am sure will be a very successful show for each of you. What a great image this is of the diversity and richness of U.S. food culture. I wish you good luck in your business endeavors here, or as our French friends say “bonne chance à vous tous!”
