São Paulo – For the third year running, the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply and the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce are going to take companies to exhibit at the Gulfood, the food sector fair to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from February 21st to 24th. Those interested should fill out a registration form on the ministry site.
The Brazilian stand should have a capacity to receive 12 exhibitors. Among those who have already demonstrated interest in exhibiting are companies in the honey, chicken, dairy, commodities and food supply sectors. As the number of positions is limited, the ministry should disclose, once the period for enrolment is over, on January 20, the list of companies selected.
"This year Brazilian participation should be stronger. Several sectors are going to participate in the fair,” said the director of the International Promotion Department at the Ministry, Eduardo Sampaio Marques. Apart from the ministry and Arab Brazilian Chamber stands, several sector organisations and companies are going to have their own spaces.
According to him, due to lack of space the Brazilian stands will not be unified in a pavilion, “but they will all be close together and will have unified visual presentation”.
According to the ministry, the idea is to promote Brazilian agribusiness and increase exports to the Arab countries. In 2009, Brazilian agribusiness sales to the Emirates totalled US$ 1.14 billion, growth of 49% over 2008. The Emirates were the second main destination among the Arab countries, losing only to Saudi Arabia, which imported the equivalent to US$ 1.5 billion.
According to figures disclosed by the ministry, sales that presented the greatest growth in the Arab market were those in the sugar and alcohol sector, flour and preparations, oleaginous products, vegetable, leguminous plants, roots and bulbs.
According to Marques, developing countries have been playing a more important part in Brazilian exports, and the countries of the Middle East are among them.
The fair
The Gulfood should attract over 3,000 exhibitors from 60 countries and 45,000 visitors. According to Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO of the Dubai World Trade Centre, the organizer of the fair, almost 90% of the countries of the Middle East depend on imports of foods, which generates a great opportunity for exporters, importers, producers of packages and machinery for the sector.
“With the high rate of population growth in the region, the availability of certified and good quality raw material and the greater buying power, the food and beverage industry should grow quickly and in a sustainable manner,” said Almarri in a press release disclosed by the fair organizers.
Further information
Ministry of Agriculture
Site: www.agricultura.gov.br
E-mail: dpi@agricultura.gov.br
Tel.: (+55 61) 3218-2817
*Translated by Mark Ament
