Diversified Communications, the organizer of the 2020 edition of Seafood Expo Asia, which was scheduled to take place 18 to 20 November in Singapore, has canceled the event, citing the ongoing health and safety issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seafood Expo Asia, an Asia-focused seafood trade event, was slated to take place for the first time in Singapore this year, after moving from Hong Kong.
“Despite some re-opening measures internationally and locally, there are still far too many uncertainties about the impact COVID-19 will have on travel and mass gatherings this November,” Diversified Communications said in a press release. “Consequently, it is impossible to hold an event that would provide an experience the seafood community would find valuable.”
Diversified said it will be reaching out to customers to answer questions about the cancellation and “discuss opportunities to continue to move their business ahead in the Asian market, access educational resources, and reconnect with seafood buying communities going forward,” it said.
Portland, Maine-based Diversified has also been forced to cancel the 2020 editions of Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, scheduled to take place in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.; and Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global, which was set to celebrate its final year in Brussels, Belgium, before moving to Barcelona, Spain, in 2021.
Diversified isn’t alone – virtually every in-person trade event for the seafood industry has been cancelled this year, including the 2020 China International Fisheries Expo in Qingdao, China, and Conxemar’s seafood trade shows in Vigo, Spain and Brussels, Belgium.
“This has been a challenging year for the seafood community and we are thankful for the support from the industry, our vendors and partners. We will continue to evaluate our offerings and find solutions to help our customers connect and develop business during this difficult time,” Diversified Group Vice President Liz Plizga said. “We look forward to offering an event that will facilitate business between seafood buyers throughout Asia and suppliers from around the world in 2021.”
