Abu Dhabi: The population of the Arab world is expected to reach 480 million by the year 2030 and it is a huge responsibility to guarantee safe, secure and nutritious food for such large numbers of people.
GCC nations are expected to formulate a vision for the food security for the region during a ministerial conference on the sidelines of SIAL Middle East, the regional edition of the world's largest food industry exhibition.
"In the Arab world, food crises lurch behind us menacingly as a result of the increase in populations and the decline in resources. We hope the ministerial conference on November 23 will result in the formulation of a vision for permanent joint work towards food security and safety for the fraternal countries of the region," Rashid Al Shariqi, Director General of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, said during a press conference at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) while announcing details of the exhibition.
1,000 brands
The three-day event will open on Monday at Adnec, with 1,000 brands by 300 exhibitors from 30 countries on display.
Under the patronage of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and the Chairman of ADFCA, the event is organised by Turret Media in collaboration with Comexposium.
About 80 per cent of exhibitors belong to the international food industry. It will bring together 30 date manufacturing companies and host date trade buyers at the show.
The show will also feature nine national pavilions from Argentina, China, France, Hong Kong, Iran, Lebanon, Thailand, Turkey, and the United States.
The workshop on the dates will showcase the UAE's history and heritage, Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, director of communications and community services at ADFCA, said.
Al Shariqi said the Middle East region's food industry is valued at around $35 billion (Dh126.5 billion), of which GCC countries account for nearly $12 billion (Dh44.07 billion). "From the vantage point of Abu Dhabi, global firms in the food industry will approach around 2 billion consumers in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia," he said.
Featured events
Highlighting the specialised line-up of featured events that run alongside the exhibition such as the Purchasers Club and the Unido Investment Meetings, the officials said the event will trigger more investments in food industry, thus giving the UAE's $6.78 billion food industry a substantial boost.
Event
- What: SIAL Middle East ministerial conference
- When: November 22-24
- Where: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
