International exhibitors discover new markets in the Gulf

Exhibitors from as far apart as Mexico, Australia, and India speak highly of the volume and quality of new business deals they have closed or are under negotiation.

More than 300 companies from 35 countries are represented at the show, the region's only event dedicated to natural products.

Repeat exhibitors are impressed by the surge in demand from GCC markets. The show has grown by 100 per cent since the first edition three years ago and now occupies more than 5,000 square metres of floor space at the Dubai Exhibition Centre.

"We have done excellent business," said Dr Sanjay Advani, head of sales and marketing of Lupin Herbal, a new division of Lupin Pharma - one of India's top pharmaceutical companies and the only one to conduct research and development into herbal medicines for migraine and psoriasis.

More than 200 scientists at its Mumbai headquarters are dedicated to developing and testing clinically-controlled versions of traditional herbal remedies

The company is offering a comprehensive range of these research-based products that have attracted intense interest from Gulf distributors.

"This is the second time we have exhibited and the increased demand this year is quite remarkable," said Dr Advani. "We have generated extensive new business in Saudi Arabia, for example, and there is ample evidence that Gulf consumers are at least abreast of the global trend to natural medications."

MMUSA, the American producer of liquid creatin serum is at Middle East Natural & Organic Products Expo for the third successive year to support suppliers and present its products. The company operates in 22 countries and has regional branches in Europe, North and South America, Australia, and the UAE.
Export account for 60 per cent out of its US output. With growing worldwide demand for sport supplements, MMUSA sees unique potential for its products in the UAE and GCC countries.

In the same field, Rami S. Abduljawad, managing director of Planet Nutrition, has two stands on the exhibition - launching two new brands, Clearspring and Balestra&Mech.

Balestra&Mech is an organic slimming product customised for the Arabic market by avoiding ingredients such as sugar, alcohol preservations, and contra-indications. It will be distributed across the GCC.

Clearsprings provides high quality food products such as traditional Japanese oils and seasonings. Planet Nutrition is also distributing its own multi-vitamin and mineral supplements for men for the first time. A comparable range for women is planned and may be launched at next year's expo.

From Africa, Epopa promotes export of organic products. The company is back at the Dubai expo for the second time, targeting wholesalers for dried and fresh food and vanilla from East African countries such as Zambia, Uganda and Tanzania.

Epopa already exports to Europe and the US and sees great potential to start a direct business line to the GCC.

The company's market coordinator Kari Oerjavik reports meeting "serious buyers and high quality visitors" on the first two days of the exhibition.

From Mexico, first-time exhibitor Neukutli provides organic syrup, marmalade and food ingredients. The company operates worldwide and exports 95 per cent of production to North America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

By coming to the Dubai show for the first time Neukutli is seeking to enter GCC markets by meeting potential distributors and clients and reports that response has been very encouraging.

Australian John Kerr, managing director of Springfields Health Care Group, has the same target. The Sidney-based company is displaying nature-based beauty spa products that are currently exported to Taiwan, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

A new concept from another field is represented by Patrick Kaufmann of Pro-Flora. The company's Sri Lanka-produced Bio Power Gro is an enriched coir fibre dust (cocopeat) that provides a 100 per cent product free of mineral soil or leaf material and saves water.

Kaufmann is very positive about the achieved from the exhibition, saying that the company's target audience is well represented with negotiations under way for significant volumes of new business.

Middle East Natural & Organic Products Expo ends its three-day run today (Tuesday, Dec 12). The show is open to trade visitors and the public from 10am-7pm.