Compared with last year, the number of exhibitors were reportedly up, and so were the visitors, though official figures won’t be released until the end of this week.
Turkey, Italy, France and the US occupied the top four largest pavilions – a combined space of almost 6,000 sq m. Britain also represented one of the leading pavilions, with UK exports to Gulf states rising by more than 24% in 2008 to AED 1.2bn ($326m). Gulfood 2009 also boasted new pavilions from countries such as Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Hong Kong and Pakistan.
“Many multinational companies recognise Gulfood as a key part of their business strategy,” said Helal Saeed Al Marri, CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre (organiser of the event). “Thousands of companies from the world’s food and beverage industry came to Dubai to meet with some of the most influential players operating in the market, providing tremendous opportunities in the region.
“In the context of increasing globalisation in the food and beverage industry, businesses have to adapt to a changing market and capitalise on opportunities outside of their borders,” he added. “Foreign markets are a huge opportunity for expanding a business, and Gulfood provides the most effective setting for like-minded professionals to meet and pursue these opportunities.”
Many of the international companies exhibiting at Gulfood were refreshingly bullish about future business prospects in the Middle East, though several executives also expressed the view that negotiations and deals about import opportunities could be stifled by current global economic fragility.
However, the event organisers claim that an anticipated increase in exhibitor and visitor numbers at Gulfood in 2009 demonstrates that the food and drink sector in the Middle East hasn’t been adversely affected by the global economic downturn as some had feared.
Organised by Zenith International and sponsored by German ingredients specialist Wild, the Beverage Opportunity Workshop at Gulfood offered research and insights into issues that are critical to the beverage sector in the region. Topics such as ‘Global and Middle East Beverage Market Trends’, ‘Sports and Energy Drinks’ and ‘Innovation Opportunities’ were just a few highlights within the fascinating programme designed to assist executives working in the beverage sector in identifying the key trends and emerging opportunities in the industry.
Water Innovation editor, Nayl D’Souza, presented workshops on ‘Innovation’ and ‘Trend Opportunities’ alongside others from Zenith International market intelligence director, Gary Roethenbaugh and regional manager, Sam Shammas.
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