Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) will lead a group of German companies to participate in a food and hospitality exposition in Ho Chi Minh City between April 24 and 26, the German Consulate General in the city said Friday in a press release.

This is the second time BMELV attends such an event in the southern commercial hub. As scheduled, German producers of beer, milk, meat, and sausage will join BMELV under one joint stand at the Food and Hotel Vietnam 2013 fair.

BMELV specializes in helping German food and agriculture small-and-medium enterprises to penetrate new markets as well as strengthen their foothold.

Germany is the biggest food producer in Europe, with an upper hand in meat, dairy, confectionery, wine, and beer. The country exports one third of its total food production every year.

Its average spending on science and research activities in the food industry is two times higher than that of the whole continent.

Last year, the European nation’s food exports to Vietnam topped US$85 million, up 46 percent from the previous year.