Fifteen Asian countries have confirmed they would participate in the First Asian Food Exhibition to be held in Riyadh from May 25 to 27, according to the expo organizers.

“We hope and expect to attract more participants to the exhibition, the first of its kind to be held in the Kingdom,” said Ghazwan Salah Al-Musri, chief executive officer of Al-Barez House Establishment, the event organizer.

“We’re working hard to ensure the event is a success. We also want to thank those who have been helping us to prepare,” he said.

Mohsin Shaikh Al-Hassan, a spokesman for the organizers, said the aim is to bring the food Asians love into the Kingdom. Preparations have begun early because of the huge participation expected.

The exhibition area can accommodate 40,000 companies to exhibit their products and services.

He said many of the 4 million-strong Asian community are expected to attend.

There would also be products and services on display for the health conscious, he said. “The exhibition hopes to provide alternative options for Asians in the Kingdom, who not only long for food from their respective countries but are also conscious about their health,” he said.

He said that the show would likely see intense competition among participants because they would want to cash in on the huge market for Asian products in the Kingdom.