Gulfood 2005 set to capitalise on burgeoning market

The show, which takes place from February 20 to 23, 2005, capitalises on the advantage of being at the hub of a high-spending and rapidly growing target market, announced organisers Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

The tenth edition of the biennial event, which will be held at the DWTC Complex, will offer an opportunity to food and hospitality industries to display the latest developments and technologies as well as network with fellow professionals located in a region which has recorded a spectacular growth in tourism and hospitality infrastructure and which as a result has become one of the key growth areas for both these sectors. Some 1,304 particiapants from 44 countries including 25 country pavilions took part in the show last year.

The Middle East's high disposable income, appetite and vision makes it an increasingly important food and drinks consumer. The region is also heavily dependant on large scale imports of food and food-related products, with more than 90% of its needs being met from overseas. This makes food and food related products in the Gulf a massively important sector for any international manufacturer, importer or trader.

Gulfood facilitates the development of trade, tastes and trends by attracting key industry buyers from over 75 countries and its position is consolidated by Dubai's key role as the region's business and re-exporting hub, being located on the crossroads of three continents and the centre of a potential market of more than 2 billion people.

Going by early responses, all indications point to a considerably larger show in 2005. Projected figures indicate a 30 per cent surge in participation over 2003, which reinforces the fact that Gulfood is the only exhibition of its kind that provides access to fast-growing markets in the Middle East, North and East Africa, the GCC, the former CIS and the booming Indian subcontinent.

The event will welcome new country pavilions from Argentina, Armenia, Belgium's Walloon region, India, Iran, Malaysia and South Africa who have already signed up, with several others also planning to enter the market for the first time.

Gulfood will once again be supported by Emirates Culinary Guild, who will host the Emirates International Salon Culinaire 2005, a four-day extravaganza of seminars, competitions and demonstrations.

Another significant development is the move of the Third Middle East Food Marketing Forum from its usual January slot to run alongside Gulfood 2005, which will offer senior managers a specially developed programme to provide guidance, advice and debate on the latest issues shaping food product development.

The exhibitor profile for Gulfood 2005 has been developed to include the food processing, packaging and ingredients segments as well as the firmly established food, drinks, bakery, foodservice and hospitality equipment areas. The food processing and packing business in the Middle East is significant and growing, with much of the technology being imported. It is a natural and obvious progression, which will bring synergy to Gulfood.