More than 1,500 international food manufacturers, suppliers and industry service providers will participate at the Gulfood Manufacturing 2015, the Middle East’s biggest food manufacturing, ingredients, processing and packaging exhibition in Dubai, UAE.

The event will take place from October 27 to 29, at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

In-line with global food manufacturing trends, Gulfood Manufacturing 2015 will address issues including food security, sustainability, speed and efficiency of production, and logistics and transport factors involved in time to market, said the statement.

Established in 2014, the event is regarded among the most influential and largest industry show for its sector throughout the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia (MEASA) region, it added.

The event’s national pavilions includes representation from more than 26 countries such as Germany, Austria, China, Egypt, France, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, India, Italy, the USA and the UK.

Local, regional and global trade professionals visiting the show 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 - F&B Innovation, Next Generation Manufacturing and Food Logistics - 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 – 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 the GCC food imports forecast to reach $53.1 billion by 2020 according to a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Gulfood Manufacturing will reverse 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. – TradeArabia News Service