Dubai: 
Food traders from across the world are showcasing their products and services in Dubai from February 25 to 28 to tap into the UAE’s growing food and beverage industry.

Gulfood, now in its 18th edition, will attract 4,200 exhibitors from 110 countries, including Australia, Argentina, the UK, France, Germany and Korea. There will also be 357 UAE exhibitors, as well as 717 GCC exhibitors.

“The global food and beverage production market this year is valued at Dh20.6 trillion,” said Helal Saeed Al Marri, CEO of DWTC.

The exhibition, which brings together food producers, suppliers and manufacturers, will capitalise on the UAE’s planned Islamic economy, with 50-55 per cent of food products being Halal, said Trixie Loh, senior vice president of DWTC.

The industry’s growth is credited to the growing population, the increase of tourists to the country, and the higher per capita income.

“Food imports to the GCC alone is expected to more than double to Dh194 billion by 2020,” said Al Marri.

The UAE’s food consumption rate is expected to have reached Dh28.2 billion last year, and is forecast to climb to Dh32.6 billion this year, said Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He added that the food and beverage sector is expected to grow by 10 per cent on average in the next 2-3 years to reach more than Dh40 billion by 2016.

Meanwhile, the country’s food exports amounted to Dh17.5 billion in 2011, up 10 per cent from Dh15.8 billion from the year before, said Rashid Ahmad Al Teneiji, Director of Government Communications at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade.

Pablo Kang, Australia’s ambassador to the UAE, said Australia’s food exports to the UAE in 2012 was valued at A$642 million (Dh2.43 billion), which “represents near doubling of exports to the UAE in the last five years.”

The event, which aims to support the growth of the industry, contributes to the development of the economy.

“In 2012, the event generated Dh569 million for the local economy,” said Al Marri.

— Sarah Algethami is a trainee at Gulf News