Food Expo 2006 opens today in Muscat

The exhibition, which will be held until December 5, will be formally inaugurated by H.E. Ahmed Sulaiman Saleh Al Maimani, Undersecretary for Administrative and Financial Affairs and Regions Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The opening ceremony will be attended by ministry officials, ambassadors, top executives of participating companies, and distinguished guests from the sultanate's food and beverage industry.

Organized by Omanexpo LLC, Food Expo 2006 will feature over 55 local and international companies that directly serve the food and beverage industry as well as the hospitality industry in Oman. The three-day exhibition will showcase a wide range of products for groceries and hypermarkets, hotels and restaurants, catering firms, agricultural companies, and food manufacturers.

'The main objective of the international exhibition is to contribute to the continued growth of Oman's food industry by presenting the latest products and equipment that are available in the market,' said C.J. Paul, general manager of Omanexpo LLC, the leading exhibition management company in the sultanate.

Paul pointed out that Omani companies will have a major presence in the exhibition with the participation of Abdul Khalik Abdullah Habib Najwani & Partners LLC as the major sponsor of the event. Other local participants include Al Bayader International, A'Saffa Poultry Farms SAOG, General Electric & Trading Co. LLC, Matrah Cold Stores LLC, Oman Gulf Enterprises, Premium Food Industries, Shah Nagardas Manji & Co., Sharikah Fanniyah Omaniyah (Muscat) LLC, and Sohar Poultry Company SAOG.

Other companies that have signed up for the exhibition are Al-Bariq Equipment LLC, Asha Enterprises, Bartechco, Business International Group, Consumer Supplies Co. LLC, Dan International LLC, Dhofar Beverage and Foodstuff Co. SAOG, General Development Services, JohnsonDiversey, Kalhat Services & Trading LLC, Nizwa Food Industries LLC, Oman Tourism College, Sahara Foodstuff Production & Packing, and United Dates Factory Company LLC.

More than 25 exhibitors from other parts of the world are also participating to present their high-quality products to potential clients and distributors in Oman. Among these is IMI International Ltd. of the UK, which is introducing Battery Energy Drink, the sponsor of Food Expo 2006.

Other foreign companies that will display their products in the exhibition include Al Barq Kitchen Equipment Co. LLC, The Food Centre, and Sawas Kitchen Equipment Co. of the UAE; Moretti Forni S.p.A., Ave Industries, and Metos S.p.A. of Italy; Rieber GmbH & Co. KG of Germany; Ceylon Fresh Teas, Bogawantalawa Tea Estates, and Maliban Biscuit Manufactories of Sri Lanka; Sotubi of Tunisia as well as 10 companies from Brunei.

'The strong local and international participation in Food Expo 2006 is a clear indication of the existing major opportunities in the industry and the growing interest of foreign companies in the Oman food market,' said Abdullah Beg, project manager of the event.

The exhibition timings are set from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and then from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. To attract the interest of visitors, cooking demonstrations will be conducted by chefs from Al Sawadi Beach Resort on all days of the event.

Food Expo is also supported by the Oman Daily Observer and Arabic Daily Oman as media partners.