Havana, Cuba.-The 20th International agricultural and food event Fiagrop 2017 will have among its main objectives to promote businesses and boost activities associated with this event, today its organizers said to the press.

The director general of the agricultural fair company, Adolfo Aroche, said in a press conference that this edition, in this capital, will be the largest among all those carried out, both in participation and exhibition area.

Fiagrop 2017 includes a trade show which opening, next day March 20, shall constitute the official opening of the fair, which will be represented by 63 foreign firms from 16 countries, in comparison with 17 companies last year.

The number of exhibitors amounts to 172, compared to the 76 the last year, said Ignacio Caraballo, director of Promotion of the event.

Among the represented countries, there are: France, Spain, Czech Republic, Germany, Venezuela, Mexico, Panama, the US, Holland, Italy, United Arab Emirates (coming for the very first time) and Bolivia.

The commercial sample, in session until March 25, will cover an area of 2,059 square meters in five pavillions, and a free surface of 6,000 square meters, with presentations by Cuban group AZCUBA (sugar industry), the Ministries of Food Industry and Agriculture, with their technology and equipments.

Caraballo stated that on this occasion, France not only brings firms producing products and inputs, but also a representation of the livestock fairs from Europe.

Fiagrop 2017 includes national and international championships of Rodeo (in this last, to compete representatives of Cuba, Venezuela, Panama and Mexico), as well as the delivery of 34 conferences by specialists from institutes of pasture and forage, poultry, pork meat breeding and other entities.

Also 23 clinical lectures on the sites where the animals are, which will be carried out by experts of the Cuban Association of Animal Production, and other agencies, as well as the realization of auctions.

Organizers said that Fiagrop has stopped being a fair only to exhibit cattle, animals, to become a complex forum, combining exhibition activities, commercial stock market, competitions, recreation and cultural activities.