Middle East's major food exhibition gets under way

Dubai: The 13th Gulfood Exhibition, the largest food, drink and food service event in the Middle East officially opened on Sunday, promising to boost further the region's food and hospitality industry.

The event, which will run till February 27, covers 60,000 square metres at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, hosting over 2,500 companies and exhibitors from over 70 countries.

Trade delegations from Canada, Egypt, France, Iraq, Nigeria, Romania, Thailand and Vietnam are also expected to attend. Participants to the trade-only event specialise in the food, drink and hospitality sectors.

"Exhibitions play an important role in driving trade for the UAE and a dynamic food sector is a key ingredient of a healthy economy. Both the style and quality of this year's show were highly impressive and the exhibitors are world-class," said Minister of Foreign Trade Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, who inaugurated the event.

Organisers of Gulfood also said international companies are increasingly interested in the event's regional reach to access over two billion consumers, while local companies seek to establish a higher profile across highly competitive food sectors.

"We are honoured that [Shaikha Lubna] was present to open this year's Gulfood. Food exports and imports are a vital part of foreign trade and the presence of the UAE minister responsible for this area reflects the importance that is being paid to encouraging stronger international links in this area," said Helal Saeed Al Merri, director general of the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The Middle East food service market is estimated to be worth more than $31 billion annually. The GCC states account for almost $9.5 billion of the amount, with meat, poultry and fish accounting for 30 per cent of purchases by the foodservice sectors.

Research from global group BIS Shrapnel also showed that families in the region spend $9.5 billion annually on food consumed outside their homes.

New hotels

Industry sources said around 175 new hotels are also due for completion by 2010 in the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain, an indication that the region's food and hospitality sector is bound to continue expanding.

"Economically and soc-ially, food and foodservices are hugely important sectors, as they cater to the growth and development of the tourism and hospitality industries. Gulfood is playing an increasingly important role on the global stage, and has evolved into a major forum for business and knowledge exchange amongst leading international buyers and suppliers," said Al Merri.

This year's show will also witness hundreds of new launches and view products never before seen in the region. Countries making their debut at the exhibition include Ecuador, Hungary, Lithuania, Malawi, Northern Ireland, Poland, Switzerland and Uruguay.