A food industry event set for late next month in the UAE will address issues relating to food security, sustainability, production efficiency and logistics.

Gulfood Manufacturing 2015, the Middle East’s biggest food manufacturing, ingredients, processing and packaging exhibition, is scheduled for October 27 to 29 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

More than 1,500 international food manufacturers, suppliers and industry service providers are expected to take part in the expo, DWTC said.

Established in 2014, the event is regarded as one of the most influential shows and the largest for its sector throughout the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia (MEASA) region, it added.

It will feature national pavilions from more than 26 countries including Germany, Austria, China, Egypt, France, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, India, Italy, the USA and the UK.

Savola’s sugar production plant in Jeddah

Local, regional and global trade professionals visiting the event are expected to exceed the 26,329 visitors from 156 countries recorded last year, while another 1,200 delegates will hear from an extensive line-up of international industry experts providing valuable insights at an extended series of conferences dwelling on F&B Innovation, Next Generation Manufacturing and Food Logistics. Also being organised are workshops and niche exhibitions running concurrently with Gulfood Manufacturing, said the statement.

At the heart of the Gulfood Manufacturing business proposition is Dubai’s strategic position as a recognised manufacturing and logistics gateway between East and West and the primary re-export hub to emerging countries and economies across MEASA. Despite its vast trading potential, the GCC remains largely dependent on food imports to the extent of more than 75 per cent, according to Alpen Capital’s 2015 GCC Food Industry Report. Securing a steady supply of food remains a key challenge for GCC governments, it said.

With GCC food imports forecast to reach $53.1 billion by 2020 according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Gulfood Manufacturing will scale down the ‘finished foods’ focus of February’s annual Gulfood showcase and, instead, highlight the region’s ripe business potential as a leading international manufacturing and processing hub to serve domestic and international demand.

Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice-president, events and exhibitions department, DWTC, said: “Gulfood Manufacturing plays a multi-faceted role for the international industry. For the region, we offer direct access to international technical, product and service providers to continue the development of the fast-growing food manufacturing industry across MEASA.”

“For the global market, we provide a platform for sourcing of products, such as halal foods and services, and exceptional new business opportunities for suppliers across all verticals of the industry – from ingredients suppliers and production plant construction to cold chain logistics,” she said.