Middle East's first Sea Food Expo opens today

The exhibition, which was inaugurated by Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Janahi, Director of Fisheries, Ministry of Environment & Water, UAE, is slated to run from October 29 -31, 2007. The event will serve as a powerful platform for regional and international companies to showcase their products and developments in technology, equipment and services, and tap into the Middle East's burgeoning seafood market.

The exhibition has attracted the participation of 85 international exhibitors from 16 countries, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Taiwan, UK, China, India, the Philippines, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Mauritius. The exhibition will also assist chefs, buyers, traders, importers and exporters in sourcing supplies of a wide selection of high quality seafood products, as well as to establish key networks within the regional seafood market. In addition, seven local companies will highlight their advanced seafood processing techniques such as cold storage systems packaging equipment, as well as furnishings and fittings.

Speaking at the opening, Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Janahi said:

'Sea Food Expo 2007 addresses the importance of a common platform for the regional and international seafood industry to exhibit their world-class products. With a large global participation, exhibitors will have a great opportunity to gain substantial contacts and broaden their network, which will aid them in establishing business ties with local and GCC-based seafood companies.'

A major highlight of the exhibition is the endorsement and participation of international public ministries and industry bodies responsible for advancing their local fisheries and aquaculture sector, such as Department of Fisheries - Malaysia, Ministry of Fisheries - Maldives, Taiwan Frozen Seafood Industry Association, Asia Pacific Fisheries Trade Organisation - Korea, Sicilian Fisheries Department - Italy, and the National Fisheries Authority - Papua New Guinea. The exhibition will also feature three pavilions hosted by Malaysia, Italy and Taiwan, which will house the countries' local companies, each with a specified area of focus.

With interactive demonstrations and seminars running alongside the exhibition, Sea Food Expo 2007 is set to attract buyers and representatives from food service, hospitality, retail, import/export, packaging, aquaculture services and other sectors, in a bid to satisfy the growing demand for quality sea food products, equipments for preservation and transportation of seafood, and the latest technology advancement in the seafood industry.

'We launched Sea Food Expo 2007 in response to the growing Middle East market for fisheries and aquaculture products, and we are very satisfied with the unprecedented response the show has generated from international and local exhibitors. The overwhelming interest for the exhibition ensures that the expectations set for the first event of this kind will definitely be reached,' said Raees Ahmed, Director, Orange Fairs & Events. 'The presence of top seafood producing countries will ensure that only the highest-quality products and cutting-edge technologies will be on display, thereby showcasing the very best in the global seafood market.'

Orange Fairs is the organiser of Middle East's first exhibition dedicated to the seafood industry, in addition to more than 100 exhibitions in Africa, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Middle East and Eastern Europe. The prominent events company has a portfolio that includes of a wide range of in multi-million industries such as oil and gas, telecommunications, IT, health, automobiles and gold and jewellery, as well as in the electrical and electronics, manufacturing, metalworking, printing and packaging, hotel and building and construction sectors among others.