On 11 June 2025, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, with the cooperation of the Japan Food Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (FOOMA), organized a guided tour at FOOMA JAPAN 2025, the world’s leading food manufacturing machinery expo, held at Tokyo Big Sight by inviting diplomats and staff from the embassies of developing and emerging countries based in Tokyo.

The tour was part of our “Capacity Building (Embassy Programme)” and its purpose was to learn about the innovations in food manufacturing machinery.  44 diplomats and Embassy staff, including 8 ambassadors and Charge d’Affairs, from 33 embassies from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania, Middle East and Eastern Europe participated in the tour.

The programme started with opening remarks from Mr. Yukio Okawara, FOOMA Board Chairperson, where he spoke about the popularity of Japanese food worldwide, as well as the high quality of Japanese products, which makes them an essential example for food manufacturers in building their business strategies.

“This exhibition introduces food processing solutions using cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and robotics. We are beginning to see that these are considered the future. For example, AI for cooking organization, or 3D food printers that form food right in front of us.”

Then, Hideki Murakami, Deputy Head of UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, encouraged the participants to take this opportunity to consider which technologies could be applied to their own countries and to engage in business matching accordingly.

Following the opening remarks, the diplomats were divided into four groups, where each group visited five company booths, totalling in 20 booth visits.

During the guided tour, the company representatives gave comprehensive explanations and demonstrations on the latest innovations in food manufacturing machinery, including safety and sanitary regulations and frameworks, as well as other relevant topics.

This programme not only provided learning opportunities with the diplomats from developing and emerging countries but also paved the way to exchanges for developing business contracts and forming new networks in the area of food manufacturing.

Afterwards, the diplomats had about an hour of free time at the exhibition to visit booths that were not covered by the guided tour, further creating opportunities for networking and technology transfer possibilities.