22SIAL MIDDLE EAST PREVIEWSIAL <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong>, the region's fastestgrowing professional trade exhibition forthe food, drink and hospitality industry, isgearing up for its busiest edition yet, with twonew complementary partnership exhibitionsjoining the global brand under the same roof atthe three-day event, which will be held at AbuDhabi National Exhibition centre (ADNEC) from26-28 November, 2012.New for this year is the integration of Rice &Grains into the SIAL <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong> schedule.Relocating from Dubai to Abu Dhabi as part of itsfuture growth strategy, the cereals exhibition - nowin its second year - is making the move inresponse to increased interest in the event frominternational markets as the region faces ongoingchallenges in securing new food supplies as oneof the world's largest basic commodities importers.“Abu Dhabi is one of the largest purchasersof rice in the UAE as a direct result of its foodsubsidies programme for the people of theemirate. The integration of Rice & Grains intoSIAL <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong> complements the otherofferings at the event and, with Abu Dhabi amajor business hub for the region, exhibitorswill benefit considerably from participation,”said Mohamed Jalal Al Reyaysa, Chairman ofthe Organizing Committee for SIAL <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong>and official spokesperson for Abu Dhabi <strong>Food</strong>Control Authority (ADFCA).The GCC imports 90% of its foodrequirements and is entirely dependent onexternal markets to satisfy consumer demandfor maize, rice and barley. According to anAlpen Capital report, cereals accounted for43.7% of total consumption in 2011 and, witha population growing at three times the globalaverage, food imports are expected to doubleto US$53.1 billion by 2020.“The obvious synergies between the twoexhibitions has allowed us to take the event toa logical next level, by creating a multi-stageplatform that encapsulates the 'farm to food'cycle of the industry. This is a powerful vehiclewhich brings all the major local, regional andinternational players together to discussdemand drivers and current trends, and drivegrowth and innovation across the board,” saysChris Fountain, Managing Director of TurretMedia, organisers of SIAL <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong>.Rice & Grains will occupy Hall 6 at theNovember event, with over 150 industryheavyweights heading to the UAE capital to dobusiness with the more than 10,000RICE & GRAINS TOSWELL SIAL MIDDLEEAST 2012 EXHIBITIONAND CONFERENCEOFFERINGprofessional food buyers expected to attend.“The MENA region attracts the majority ofexports from the world's major rice producers,as they look to expand their global reach andcapitalise on market demand. Here in theEmirates, we have a well-established tradinghub, a structured shipping infrastructure, amplestorage facilities and a trade-friendlyenvironment, among other things,” saidFOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2012
SIAL MIDDLE EAST PREVIEW23Mohammad Harfouch, Executive Director atIdeal Idea Events, organisers of Rice & Grains.”“And with the advent of new world-classfacilities like the new Khalifa Port and theemerging Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi(KIZAD), the UAE has the potential to cement itsstatus as a launch pad for growth into new andexisting regional markets with high valuepotential,” he added.Held in strategic partnership with the AbuDhabi <strong>Food</strong> Control Authority (ADFCA),food importation trends and price hikes ofvarious food staples are set to be a hottopic on the exhibition floor and variousconference sessions.Earlier this year, UAE President, HH SheikhKhalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, issued a directiveto extend the Ramadan food subsidies fornationals until the end of the year. The list ofsubsidised essential food products supported bygovernment funding now includes rice, flour andpasta and is valued at a total of US$1.9 million.SIAL <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>East</strong> has grown rapidly since itsinaugural edition in 2010, and in 2011welcomed 466 exhibitors from 43 countries,and 9,707 visitors, representing a 55% and34% increase on 2010 figures, respectively.In addition to Rice & Grains, SIAL <strong>Middle</strong><strong>East</strong> will also incorporate a new event as partof a co-location agreement with theInternational Travel Catering Association(ITCA), as well as hosting the EmiratesInternational Date Palm Festival. The quartet ofexhibitions will welcome more than 1,000international exhibitors including 30 nationalpavilions from Argentina to Vietnam.OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2012FOOD BUSINESS GULF & MIDDLE EAST
Change language