Gulfood 2005 set to capitalise on burgeoning market
zawya
15 May 2004
Gulfood 2005, the largest, most comprehensive and representative
show for the food, hotel & hospitality industry in the Middle East
and North Africa region, has set its sights firmly on accelerated
growth by building on its acknowledged track record as the premier
regional platform for the industry. 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.
Gulfood 2003 received 12,000 high quality trade visitors from
71 countries. Exhibitor and visitor information can be found at