"We will expand the geography (the format of the tasting sessions English Gastro Week – ed.) and to enter new markets, less known to us – for example, work through Vietnam. Thailand for us is still virgin territory," said Mamonov on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg international economic forum.

"Overall, we now have a good political and economic ties. Korea and Japan have had very good initial results. We already negotiate with Korean and Japanese companies in the confectionary, drinking water, honey is played by the novelty factor of our products for these markets", — said the Agency interlocutor, adding that the first contract for the supply of ice cream to Japan was signed a few days after Gastro Week.

He also noticed that it is not necessary to forget about a delayed effect. "In the past Gastro Week on average spent one ruble of state money was earned by the 12 companies, but now this amount is an average of 15 to 18 rubles. And in some countries a longer contract cycle – for example, in the Arab countries. There we just expected the first results," he said.

Mamonov expressed the hope that the practice of sectoral business missions to the waste program will be scaled to other sectors. "First of all, talking about consumer goods, because there are plenty of SMEs that similar support is needed in the first place", — said the Agency interlocutor.

Outreach activities of Russian Gastro Week is a unique format that includes presentations of Russian companies — manufacturers of food products, b2b-the exchange of contacts and tasting. Earlier, the REC has organised taster sessions in several cities of China, Vietnam, India and the UAE.