DUBAI: Food sector trade show Gulfood Manufacturing 2017 kicks off on Tuesday at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
The three-day trade show will see more than 1,600 local, regional and international food and beverage (F&B) suppliers and service providers from 60 countries, spread through 13 of the trade centre’s halls in a total of 80,000 square metres of space.
Organisers predict around 10,000 visitors will attend the conference.
In addition to exhibitors, the show’s business conferences, featuring four symposiums and three keynote addresses, including an overview of the UAE manufacturing industry, future trends in the sector, and a look at how the introduction of VAT (value added tax) from January 1 will affect the UAE market.
“The food industry is one of the most dynamic and rapidly changing industries in the region and beyond,” said Trixie LohMirmand, DWTC’s Senior Vice-President for Exhibitions & Events Management. To that end, Gulfood Manufacturing 2017 plays a crucial role in highlighting the ever-changing food and beverage market and trends. The show is a conduit for industry stakeholders eager to accelerate their regional distribution and sales potential, and develop new routes in the food manufacturing sector.”
Poland and Russia will be taking part in the conference for the first time. The Italian presence has expanded, with 3,800 square metres devoted to Italian firms.
Tuesday evening will see the first Gulfood Manufacturing Industry Excellence Awards,
LohMirmand added, “The continued growth of Gulfood Manufacturing emphasises how important the show has become for the market leaders and key decision makers and further demonstrates that amid political and economic challenges across the globe Dubai continues to offer a supremely stable base to do business, backed by a visionary leadership and a government that is committed to investment and diversification of the economy.”
