\n<\/p>\n
In fact, the UK delegation in Singapore told the BBC they were only able to attend because they paid out of their own pockets.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince 2019, we\u2019ve received no government money whatsoever to help us come to these kinds of shows,\u201d says Karen Beston from the Food and Drink Exporters Association.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt makes it very difficult to stand out against the other European groups or other world groups that are almost fully funded by their respective governments,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n
When this was put to the UK government by the BBC, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) said: \u201cPromoting the interests of our farmers and food producers is a priority of our trade policy\u201d.<\/p>\n
Defra also pointed out that – although suppliers do not receive any direct public money to help them attend trade shows – last year it spent \u00a31.6m on events to promote sales of British food, such as tastings and networking opportunities.<\/p>\n
Currently, the UK exports \u00a33.5bn ($4.4bn) worth of food and drink to Asia, which is an increase of 18% since 2019. This is proof, British ministers would say, that Britain’s status as an “independent trading nation” has benefitted the country’s businesses since it left the European Union.<\/p>\n
But in that same period, Italy\u2019s exports to Asia grew by 36% to \u20ac6.1bn (\u00a35.2bn; $6.6bn).<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving a supportive government is definitely important,\u201d says Italy’s Ambassador Brandi.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut a major advantage we enjoy, along with other EU states, is the free trade agreements we have with many important Asian countries,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless an opportunity – whether golden or not – does exist for British producers in the wake of Brexit.<\/p>\n
More than 60,000 people visited this year\u2019s event in Singapore. By the start of the next decade, analysts estimate people in Asia will spend $8tn annually on food.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe potential is huge,\u201d says Japnit Singh, chief operating officer at Spire Research and Consulting in Singapore.<\/p>\n
\u201cA few years ago, it was very local food-centric here. I used to say that would never change, but I was wrong. We’re seeing a transformation in habits – people want to eat western food and they\u2019re willing to pay for it,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n
According to Mr Singh, rising incomes, increased travel and – crucially – social media have helped make the Asian palate increasingly adventurous.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n