Dubai – Egyptian company Al Garas is seeking new suppliers of spices in Brazil. Today (21), a company representative was at the Brazilian stand at Gulfood, the international food sector fair that ends on the 24th, in Dubai, to meet sales people.
According to Nocehi Garas, general manager, his company already imports around six 25-tonne containers of cloves from Brazil, and between eight and ten containers of black pepper. “We buy from Brazil due to the competitive prices,” he said.
Garas hopes to increase the volume of spices imported from the country. “If we are offered competitive prices, our market will certainly purchase more from Brazil.” During the event, he spoke to Paula Costa, the owner of Agroway, who is exhibiting at the stand organized by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply.
Paula explains that she has already sold to Al Garas and that the company is “a great client, as it buys all year through.” According to her, the talks focussed on the deals that have already been made between both companies and the spice market in general. “Expectations are to close deals after the fair,” he said.
Minister
The first day of Gulfood included a visit by the minister of Finance of the Emirates, Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. During a quick visit to the event, the minister received a present from the secretary general at the Chamber, Michel Alaby.
Al Maktoum says he already knows some Brazilian products like beef, chicken and chocolate, and said he is interested in learning about other Brazilian foods.
The 2010 edition of the Gulfood is the largest promoted since it began in 1987. The event covers over one million square metres at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and includes over 3500 exhibitors from 81 countries.
New events
This year, the fair organisers are also promoting the Gulfood Conference, in which international specialists should discuss, during the four days of the event, the future tendencies and critical matters regarding the food and beverage industry, as well as the relevance of these themes to the regional markets.
The conference takes place in the sidelines of the Dubai International Food Safety Conference, organized by Dubai Municipality during the Gulfood, aimed at discussing food safety systems, regulations and best practices in the area, as the local government is implementing new rules and health measures.
This edition also inaugurates the Gulfood Majlis, a commercial forum for senior professionals in the food industry to develop new business opportunities.
Contact
Al Garas For Spices & Herbs Industry
Tel: (+203) 4594052
E-mail: info@algarasspices-herbs.com
*Translated by Mark Ament
