€1.07M for international trade fairs: opportunity for food and beverage companies 2026-2027

Key data

Spanish agri-food companies have a concrete opportunity for internationalization with institutional support and public co-financing. The agreement signed between MAPA and FIAB, published in the BOE of 8 June 2026, activates a budget of €1,070,000 to jointly participate in leading international trade fairs during 2026 and 2027.

The agreement is 50% co-financed: MAPA contributes €535,000 and FIAB contributes €535,000. This means that half of the cost of presence at these trade fairs is covered by public funds, which significantly reduces the entry barrier for companies in the sector that want to explore foreign markets.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement regulates collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) and the Spanish Federation of Food and Beverage Industries (FIAB) for joint promotion of Spanish agri-food products in international markets through specialized trade fairs and exhibitions.

The target markets covered by the 15 trade fairs are:

• Australia
• Asia
• Middle East
• America
• Europe

Public financing covers exclusively the following items:

• Trade fair space rental
• Stand design and setup

The following are expressly excluded from public financing:

• Travel and transportation
• Meals and catering
• Staff salaries
• Services specific to individual companies

The agreement also establishes two key operational requirements for FIAB:

• Guarantee a minimum of 4 participating companies per trade fair
• Request at least 3 offers for the execution of contracted services

Economic and operational impact

For an agri-food company, participating in a leading international trade fair can mean a high expenditure just for stand and trade fair space. With this agreement, that cost is partially covered by public funds, which directly improves the profitability of foreign commercial action.

The 50% budget split between public administration and private sector (through FIAB) is a co-financing model that reduces the individual economic risk of each participating company. By distributing among a minimum of 4 companies per fair and 15 fairs in total, the impact extends to a significant number of sector operators.

The covered markets—Australia, Asia, Middle East, America and Europe—are strategic destinations for Spanish agri-food exports, with high demand for differentiated quality products. Presence at specialized trade fairs in these markets has direct commercial value: contacts with local distributors, buyers and prescribers.

From an operational perspective, companies must keep in mind that travel costs, personnel and own services are entirely their responsibility. Public coverage is structural (stand and space), not logistical or personnel-related.

Who does it affect?

• Food and beverage companies integrated in FIAB: more than 3,000 SMEs and large companies with direct access to this program
• Spanish agri-food exporters who want to open or consolidate presence in markets in Asia, Middle East, America, Australia and Europe
• SMEs in the agri-food sector that could not afford to participate in leading international trade fairs on their own
• Large companies in the sector seeking to expand their international contact network with institutional support
• Sector associations and groups linked to FIAB that coordinate the participation of their member companies

Practical example

A Spanish SME specializing in vegetable preserves, integrated in FIAB, wants to participate in a food trade fair in Asia in 2026. Without the agreement, the cost of trade fair space rental and setting up a representative stand can exceed €15,000-20,000 just for those items.

With the MAPA-FIAB agreement active, those stand and space costs are covered by public co-financing (€535,000 from MAPA distributed among the 15 trade fairs and participating companies in each one). The company only assumes the costs of traveling its commercial team, meals and any specific service it contracts on its own.

To access it, the company must be integrated in FIAB and be part of a group of at least 4 participants that FIAB must guarantee per fair. The selection and call process is managed by FIAB, which is obligated to request a minimum of 3 offers for contracting stand and setup services.

What should companies do now?

1. Verify if your company is integrated in FIAB: access to the program is exclusive to member companies. If you are not, consider joining to benefit from this and future agreements.
2. Contact FIAB to learn about the 2026-2027 trade fair calendar: the 15 covered trade fairs span markets in Australia, Asia, Middle East, America and Europe. Identify which ones fit your export strategy.
3. Confirm your interest in participating in advance: FIAB must guarantee a minimum of 4 companies per fair. The sooner you confirm, the more options you have.
4. Budget the non-covered costs: travel, meals, salaries and specific services are your responsibility. Calculate the real cost of participation before committing.
5. Prepare commercial materials and messaging adapted to each target market: presence at a trade fair is only profitable if you go with a clear value proposition for the local market.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-12399