Dubai plans high-profile role in Gulf Food expo

The Municipality will have a substantial presence at the Gulf Food, Hotel and Equipment Exhibition 2001 at the Dubai World Trade Centre this month. Khalid Mohammed Sharif Al Awadi, head of the Food Control Section, said the civic body will have several senior officials on site, and has created information booklets for the exhibition which runs from February 25-28.

"We decided that we would have a bigger presence at the exhibition so that we can provide more detailed information to people. It is an effort to help facilitate trade. "Two years ago, when we had a counter at the exhibition, we received a lot of enquiries about rules regarding imports and re-exports of food from Dubai.

"According to the latest figures, we have three million tonnes of food coming into the emirate, of which around 60 per cent is re-exported to neighbouring countries. A lot of companies use Dubai as a transit point, as they find the facilities suitable."

Gulf Food is a biennial exhibition of the region's food and hospitality industry and includes food and beverage products, hotel refrigeration and catering equipment, hotel supplies and services, food processing machinery, food packaging and labelling equipment, disposable items and hospitality information systems.

"We have created booklets specially to meet the enquiries at the exhibition, explaining rules in a detailed manner," Al Awadi said. "They give information about procedures for re-export, the documentation needed, penalties for violation and other legalities.

"Also, a larger presence will help us collect information about what companies are looking for." Vijay Menon, Dubai World Trade Centre International Project Manager, said: "More than 480 companies from around the world are in the show, which is the biggest of its kind in the Middle East."

The national pavilions include those of Cyprus, Turkey, the U.S., The Netherlands, Hungary, Egypt, Jordan, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Bavaria, Northern Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Austria, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium and the UK.