The 2015 edition of Gulfood, the world’s largest annual food and hospitality trade show, is underway at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), highlighting Dubai’s strategic role as a key trading hub for the global food industry.
Running from February 8th to 12th, Gulfood 2015 is expected to have attracted more than 4,800 international companies from 120 countries and over 85,000 visitors from over 170 countries at its conclusion tomorrow. The 127,000 square metres of exhibition space is housing displays from finished food suppliers, bulk commodity wholesalers and exporters across the spectrum of fresh, frozen, dry and processed food and beverage products,
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Minister of Finance of the UAE formally opened Gulfood 2015 on February 8
Driven by a fast-growing population, burgeoning hospitality and tourism markets and its prominent position as a re-export hub, the UAE’s demand for food staples is increasing at a rate of 30 per cent every year, according to the Ministry of Economy. With imports accounting for between 80-90 per cent of GCC food consumption, Dubai is best placed to cater for increasing demand in regional food trading.
“A landmark celebration such as the 20th anniversary of Gulfood is an opportunity to reflect on the show’s growth in both scale and stature over the past two decades, and to reiterate the role Gulfood continues to play in brokering significant partnerships and business deals between companies, corporations and countries around the world,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events, DWTC.
One of Gulfood’s undisputed draws for the regions’ top professional chefs, pastry chefs, cooks and bakers every year is the annual Emirates Culinary Guild International Salon Culinaire – a showcase of the region’s best culinary talent and expertise. Held in Za’abeel Pavilion, this year’s Salon will see more than 1,300 professional chefs evaluated by a panel of 25 renowned experts, mandated by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS) to judge culinary events across the globe.
Representing India at the event is APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority), whose exhibition stand is showcasing Indian cuisines of Basmati rice and processed foods from India. Select leading exporters of rice, chutneys and pickles, honey, ready-to-eat snack foods, processed foods, dairy products, groundnuts and other Indian delicacies are on hand to to explain the unique characteristics of Indian food in detail and extended discussions on the matter related to the subject.
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