Dubai Exports hosts networking zone at Gulfood to foster more food exports into the region

Aiming to strengthen the UAE’s food and beverage sector, Dubai Exports, an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED), and Dubai World Trade Centre, have jointly hosted the Gulfood Majlis Lounge during the 16^th edition of the Gulfood Exhibition, the region’s biggest annual food and hospitality event. 

Happening from 27^th February to 2^nd March, the Gulfood Majlis Lounge became a perfect venue for companies to develop business relationships and conduct trade in a comfortable business environment. In addition, Dubai Exports organised a networking breakfast for the international buyers to meet with the UAE-based companies. 

More than 60 companies from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, India, Jordan, Spain, and Syria attended the networking breakfast and met with the UAE companies to discuss trade and export opportunities. 

In 2010, Dubai’s food exports grew by 17 per cent with the increase representing a little over 6.6 per cent of the emirate’s non-oil exports. Dubai’s producers of food and beverage products have also penetrated a number of foreign markets including Europe and have gained an international reputation for their food and beverage products, which were exported to over 130 countries. 

“We have been supporting the Gulfood exhibition since last two years as this is a perfect venue to showcase our exports facilitation services to companies in the food sector. By partnering with DWTC on sponsoring the Gulfood Majlis Lounge, we are able to provide our local companies with a networking occasion to meet various international visitors and discuss business opportunities to expand and export locally made products outside the UAE,” said Engineer Saed Al Awadi, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Exports. 

“With Dubai as the regional business hub for MENASA region, Gulfood exhibition brings together 3,800 exhibitors and 55,000 buyers from 152 countries. Through this event, local companies from the food sector will have an advantage of exchanging the newest technologies available with thousands of regional and international companies participating at the event. This opportunity allows them to open possible new markets for their products and services,” he added. 

Mark Napier, Director, Exhibitions and Events, Dubai World Trade Centre said, “Gulfood is best known for its international profile and global trade. However, Gulfood is also major platform for UAE Exporters so we are delighted to support this initiative. Connecting International Buyers from more than 150 countries with relevant local producers is a logistical challenge so  having experts such as Dubai Exports helping facilitate this program is an enormous benefit and I commend them for their excellent work.”   

Maryam Al Saadi, Business Development Manager of Al Yasat Holding LLC, a member of Al Mazroui Group, said that the Gulfood exhibition was an important event in their calendar. “At the Gulfood Majlis Lounge organised by Dubai Exports, the quality of people and companies invited matches our target market to export our products. During the networking breakfast, we were able to meet potential global buyers from Brazil and Europe which are the countries we are now focusing to export,” she said. 

Alad Faria, Operations Manager, Shura Trading and Hotel Supplies, a member of Al Mazroui Group also saw the networking breakfast as an important platform that gave access to potential buyers which will lead to potential deals for their products and services. The company has been exporting for seven years to Oman and is currently targeting new markets such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India, through the help of Dubai Exports. 

Meanwhile, Pegasus Imports – an Indian-based company distributing high-quality food and beverage in both the food service, institutional and the retail trade – has opened its Dubai office early this year to cater to the Middle Eastern and South Asian countries. Niki Khan, Director of Sales & Marketing, Pegasus Imports said the Gulfood Majlis Lounge allowed them to identify and talk to the right people to deal with in the UAE and the company’s new Dubai office is keen to work with Dubai Exports and avail its services to help in exporting to their target markets in the region. 

Omar Fontana, Managing Partner at Lacteos LW in Argentina, which manufactures fresh cheese and fresh milk products, said that the Gulfood Majlis Lounge allowed them to network with local companies in order to conduct trade and export its products in the UAE. He added that there were 30 SMEs and 60 big companies from Argentina that were able to benefit from Dubai Exports-organised networking lounge. 

The Gulfood exhibition also hosted 81 international pavilions during the exhibition at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.