The UAE Ministry of Economy will participate in the first Arab Food Industries and Franchising Forum to be held in Jordan in February, 2011.

The forum will be held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Centre at the Dead Sea on February 1 and 2.

"We see the First Arab Food Industries and Franchising Forum as an ideal platform to highlight the national food industries in the UAE, share our experiences with our Arab brethren and build partnerships with leading companies,” said Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy.

“We also look forward to participating in a working paper on the evolution of the food industry in the UAE and how collaboration can support this vital sector in the Arab countries. Our participation will also allow us to review the challenges facing Arab food industries and propose solutions that would ensure food security and global competitiveness of the industry,” he added.

Al Mansoori said the contribution of the industrial sector to UAE’s GDP is expected to reach between 20 per cent and 25 per cent in the coming years, compared with 16.2 per cent in 2009.

More than 150 food manufacturing units operate in the country today and the food industry accounted for 46 per cent of the total investments in non-oil industrial sector in the country, he added.

Al Mansoori said the Ministry has lunched major initiatives to support the local food industry including incorporating online certificates of origin in Arabic to facilitate procedures for investors.

The Ministry, in association with Dubai e-Government and Tejari, has also set up an interactive website - madeintheuae.com - to allow manufacturers in the UAE to promote their units, products, and services among buyers all over the globe.

Amer Al Hadidi, Minister of Industry and Trade of Jordan reiterated that the UAE is a strategic economic partner to Jordan and said the forum will further enhance bilateral trade relations.

The forum will address a range of strategic issues critical to the future of the Arab food industry as well as the impact of the global economic crisis on the industry.
The participants will also discuss nanotechnology, creating better foods, franchising and investment opportunities in the Arab food industry, said Emad Abu Rafi, director-general of the AR group, the organiser of the forum. – TradeArabia News Service