The 2020 Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global event, scheduled to take place April 21 to April 23 in Brussels, Belgium, has been postponed by the organizer, Diversified Communications.
The global outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus caused the postponement, according to Diversified Communications Group Vice President Liz Plizga.
“Postponing is inevitable and unavoidable because of public health concerns,” Plizga said.
Diversified Communications is aiming to host the global trade show in Brussels at a later date in 2020, Plizga said. Exhibitors and visitors will have the option of rolling over their fees to that event, or alternatively, to the 2021 version of Seafood Expo Global, scheduled for 27 to 29 April, 2021, in Barcelona, Spain.
Earlier in the year, the 2020 edition of Seafood Expo Global was pacing at 1,622 exhibiting companies (compared to 1,527 companies signed on to exhibit by the same time last year) and 40,851 square meters booked (compared to a final total of 40,625 square meters booked at 2019’s event), the 2020 Seafood Expo Global/Seafood Processing Global was slated to be the largest version ever in the event’s 28-year history.
“Diversified Communications has made the very difficult decision that, due to the magnitude of the unanticipated public health and safety issues posed by the rapidly escalating COVID-19 outbreaks and contagion, we have no choice but to postpone the upcoming edition of Seafood Expo Global and Seafood Processing Global,” Plizga said.
Plizga said Diversified intends to announce new dates no later than 18 March, 2020.
“We value the support of everyone involved in the making of this event our vendors, the local authorities, the venue and, most of all, our partners, friends and customers in the seafood industry. We are looking forward to getting this strong seafood community back together in the near future,” she said. “Until then, we send heartfelt thoughts to those who are affected by COVID-19.”
