The Middle East food service market is estimated to be worth more than $31 billion annually, according to recent studies, due to the growing population, relatively high purchasing power and significant rise in the number of tourists.

Reports have also revealed that the region is the largest consumer of canned tuna from Thailand in terms of export volume, due to the growing demand for such products within the regional food service industry.

In line with this, the second edition of ‘Sea Food Expo 2008’, the region’s dedicated seafood event, is being eyed as a unique platform for leading Thailand-based seafood manufacturers to leverage the booming Arab food service industry.

Canned and frozen seafood products are highly utilised by leading fast food chains across the Mena region, with most of the products being imported from renowned seafood-exporting destinations such as the USA, Thailand and Malaysia.

Canned tuna products have proven to be a top-grosser in the seafood category, with the region ranking second only to the US in terms of volume consumption of tuna exports, and purchase of nearly 5,000 full container loads annually.

The regional canned seafood market is thus seen by many as an important market, which can be further explored through participation at this year’s ‘Sea Food Expo’, which will run from October 27 to 29, in Dubai.

“Sea Food Expo 2008 will gather the world’s leading seafood exporters and customers to explore the Middle East’s promising canned seafood market in particular and the overall regional seafood industry in general while discussing strategies and standards needed to sustain the productivity of the export seafood market,” stated Raees Ahmed, director, Orange Fairs & Events, the organisers of the event.

The expo aims to provide exhibitors the right platform to penetrate a market that demands a wide selection of high quality and specialty seafood and seafood products.

'The renewed presence of exhibitors from last year’s event bears testimony to the outstanding opportunities, which ‘Sea Food Expo’ has brought to them, thereby, prompting them to participate again this year.' he added.

After last year’s event attracted 85 high profile seafood companies from across the globe, the organiser is anticipating the participation of more than 170 companies from 30 countries this year.-TradeArabia News Service