14NEWSThe Halal Congress <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong> 2012 will beheld alongside Halal <strong>Food</strong> <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong> at ExpoCentre Sharjah from December 10-12, 2012.Halal Congress will be an internationalgathering for food producers, exporters &importers, dealers and distributors and industrystalwarts to share up-to-date information on Halalproducts; discuss issues & challengers; exploreopportunities; evaluate compliance, certificationand standards; and look out for investment andjoint venture opportunities in UAE.The Halal Congress will help trade visitorsrub shoulders with leading players in theindustry and network with international industryexperts and government officials.SEAFEX set to net strong demandfrom region's hospitality industryWith fish and seafood a perennial menufavourite in almost every culture around theworld including the <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong> and NorthAfrica (MENA), the region's first dedicatedseafood trade show, SEAFEX, looks set to makewaves when it launches on November 19-21,2012 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.In a multi-billion dollar industry with acurrent annual global output of 145 millionmetric tons of seafood, according to the UnitedNations' <strong>Food</strong> and Agriculture Organisation,seafood producers are increasingly looking tothe <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong> for business growth.This lucrative market with its diverse mix ofnationalities and cultures has a strongpreference for seafood. The UAE consumesmore than 50kg of fish and seafood productsper capita per year according to AsmakInternational Fish Farming Company while theEmirates Wildlife Society's recent surveys showthat 66% of the UAE population eats fish atleast once a week. Another example of the<strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong>'s growing taste for seafoodgastronomy is the 114% growth in 2010 forScottish Salmon, making the UAE the secondfastestgrowing market for the product in theworld. Data from the Scottish Governmentreveals that Scotland has experienced amassive 55% rise in <strong>Food</strong> and Beverageexports to the UAE, increasing to USD 80million in the first half of 2011.Organised by the Dubai World TradeCentre, with its experienced <strong>Gulf</strong>ood teambringing more than 25 years of expertise,industry knowledge and connections toSEAFEX, the show covers the full spectrum ofthe seafood industry, from the fresh catch to theconsumer's plate, as well as cold storage,shipping and logistics solutions.“Seafood is one of the fastest growingsegments in the global food industry, withseveral of our regional markets in the world'stop 10 in terms of consumption. We aretherefore delighted to be offering a dedicatedand comprehensive platform for both suppliersand buyers to source products, develop newsupply chains and enjoy valuable networkingopportunities at SEAFEX,” said Trixee Loh,Senior Vice President, Dubai World TradeCentre. “Given the team's expertise inorganising <strong>Gulf</strong>ood, the world's largest annualfood trade show, we have no doubt thatSEAFEX will enjoy immediate success infacilitating the showcasing and supply of thisspeciality food for retail, <strong>Food</strong> & Beverage andthe hospitality industries in our region.”The three-day event will showcase the catchof the day from the world's leading names inthe seafood industry, with confirmedparticipation from over 51 exhibitors and 21national pavilions including Canada, China,Cyprus, Greece, Libya, Morocco, Portugal,Spain, Peru, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey,Yemen, and Vietnam.According to the Vietnam Association ofSeafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP),seafood products shipped to the <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong> haveincreased in value from USD192 million in 2009to USD 258 million in 2011. Vietnam is boostingseafood exports to the UAE, Sudan, Lebanon,Iraq, and Kuwait, and has confirmed that not onlyFOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2012
NEWSis the UAE the country's largest customer, it also serves as acrucial gateway for transporting goods to other <strong>Middle</strong><strong>East</strong>ern and North African nations. Vietnam's participationat SEAFEX will further facilitate its fast growing trade.Ha Phuoc Huy, spokesperson for VASEP said:“Seafood exports of VASEP members represent 80percent of the total seafood exports of Vietnam, with the<strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong> one of our most important markets.Participating at SEAFEX Dubai, VASEP is looking tofurther grow the business of the companies represented,as well as to develop relationships and exchangeinformation with <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong> importers and distributors.”Regional distributor Essam Shamaa Seafood expectspositive results from participation at the inaugural event.Production Manager, Sumi Johnson commented: “Webelieve that this will be an excellent event, offering agateway for upcoming companies like ours to operatewith the world and an opportunity to learn about newtrends in the hotel, retail and export trade industries.”In addition to its extensive exhibitor list, SEAFEX hasalso confirmed that it will host 300 of the top influencers,managers and buyers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia,Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Tunisia,Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria and Kenya through aspecially designed hosted buyer programme. Connectingexhibitors with buyers directly, the programme ensures thatexhibitors meet with the right buyers, even before theyarrive at their stand. The show will also feature TheSustainable Skillery Corner - a live cooking station withpreparation and presentation demonstrations that offers anexclusive opportunity to gain insights into preparingobscure and unusual seafood dishes.SEAFEX is conveniently co-located with Speciality<strong>Food</strong> Festival, the region's only dedicated gourmet andfine food show for the food and hospitality industry andSweets & Snacks <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong>, the region's onlydedicated showcase for the sweets, snacks, chocolate,bakery and ice cream industry. All three shows covereverything from ingredients, equipment and technologythrough to the finished products for catering and retail.SEAFEX is for Trade and <strong>Business</strong> Professionals onlyand will be open from 11am-6pm on November 19 and20, 11am-5pm on November 21. General public andpersons under the age of 18 will not be permitted entry.Free visitor registration is available now online atwww.seafexme.com Registration will also be availableat the show upon proof of trade status.OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2012
Change language