During November, Taormina plays host to the annual Taormina Food Expo, organised by the Confederazione Nazionale dell'Artigianato e della Piccola e Media Impresa (CNA), together with the relevant local, regional, and provincial authorities of Sicily. It is the most important initiative in Sicily for the island's food producers. The event attracts an annual influx of specialised buyers from around the world, scouting niche products for export to markets as far as Canada, Japan, China, South Korea, and Australia.

The Malta Food Agency has been working on building a bridge for Malta’s food producers to neighbouring Sicily for the past two years. Fully aware of the benefits of exporting to Sicily, the Agency set its sights even higher – offering Maltese food producers the chance to form long-term synergies with their Sicilian counterparts, with the aim of jointly exporting their produce as a Mediterranean effort. Both islands are strategically located at the centre of the Mediterranean, making the European and Maghreb markets prime targets for such a collaboration.

Over the course of the last year, delegations from the Malta Food Agency visited Sicily and met with CNA officials to kickstart this relationship. These visits were reciprocated by high-ranking CNA officials, who generously devoted substantial time to working with the Agency’s management, sharing knowledge and expertise in sectors that the Malta Food Agency is striving to introduce locally. This exchange culminated in a memorandum of understanding signed by Malta Food Agency CEO Brian Vella and his CNA counterpart at the latter’s offices in Palermo. This document cemented both parties' commitment to collaborating and strengthening their agricultural sectors.

In November 2023, a delegation from the Malta Food Agency, led by Chief Business Development Officer Justin John Camilleri, attended the Expo to witness firsthand the potential such an event holds for Maltese producers and to initiate discussions to bring this vision to life. Preparations for Malta’s participation began in March this year and continued through the summer and autumn.

The result of all this groundwork?

The Maltese delegation at the Taormina Food Expo 2024 included, for the first time, representatives of Maltese producers who manned their own stalls. A wide array of Maltese products was showcased, including the iconic Maltese ftira, ravioli filled with local goat cheese, traditional Maltese sausage and rabbit, honey, wine and spirits, cheeselets, and other goat products. The Malta Food Agency also featured its own stand, displaying the Agency’s vision statement and offering an audiovisual presentation of its operations in Malta. The Maltese stalls drew significant interest from the public, producers, buyers, and representatives of various organisations at the Expo, with constant footfall from visitors sampling the products on offer.

For the first time, the Malta Food Agency also promoted Malta’s culinary richness during the Expo through a collaboration with the Malta Public Abattoir. This initiative brought three experienced chefs to Taormina to prepare Maltese recipes daily in the Expo’s Show-Cooking arena – an area typically reserved for Sicilian chefs. These demonstrations were exceptionally well-received and featured on multiple TV programmes and podcasts.

Most importantly, the Malta Food Agency ensured that the Expo was portrayed as a joint initiative between Malta and Sicily. During the logistical and liaison meetings, the Agency strongly advocated for the Expo to be officially opened by both Maltese and Sicilian authorities.

This symbolic show of synergy and cooperation highlighted the potential for two neighbouring nations to work together in food production rather than competing. Indeed, for the first time, the Expo was jointly inaugurated by senior officials from both countries. Representing Malta were the CEO of the Malta Food Agency, Brian Vella; Minister Anton Refalo; and Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said. Additionally, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Angelo Farrugia, made an official visit to the Expo, personally thanking the Maltese exhibitors and chefs for their participation. The Maltese presence was further underscored by Maltese and Italian banners displayed prominently side by side.

This Sicilian initiative of the Malta Food Agency surpassed its targets and key performance indicators. Plans are already underway to ensure an even more impactful Maltese presence at the 2025 Expo. The Agency’s mission explicitly includes supporting local food producers in accessing international markets, with Sicily viewed as a vital stepping stone. Its collaboration with CNA and senior Sicilian officials is poised to deliver ongoing benefits to Maltese producers. With the involvement of key local stakeholders, the Agency is confident that next year’s Taormina Food Expo will be an even greater success for Malta’s food industry.

Participation in the Food Expo in Taormina is part of an initiative organised by the Malta Food Agency called ‘Barra minn Xtutna’ (Beyond Our Shores). Through this initiative, the Malta Food Agency aims to connect with and gather information about producers who have the desire and potential to bring their products to international markets. This encourages more producers to engage with the agency to explore how they can collaborate. Producers interested in participating can reach out by contacting [email protected].