ABU DHABI — The three-day SIAL Middle East, the region's fastest growing professional trade exhibition for food, drink and hospitality industries, opens today (Nov. 26) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Held in strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority ( ADFCA ), the event occupies eight halls at the ADNEC venue, and features three co-located exhibitions, Rice & Grains, ITCA Abu Dhabi and the Emirates International Date Palm Festival. Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Chairman of the Higher Organizing Committee for SIAL Middle East and ADFCA Official Spokesperson, said: “The stage is now set for what must be one of the most important events of its kind in the regional calendar. Food security is a major issue throughout the MENA region and when combined with Abu Dhabi's strategic location goes some way to explaining the massive interest shown in SIAL Middle East by all sectors of the food industry.” This year's country of honor, US has 17 exhibitors, participating at SIAL Middle East at a time when US food exports to the GCC last year reached record levels valued at $2.8 billion, with the UAE accounting for almost 36 percent of those exports. US agricultural products exported to the UAE have grown by almost 13 percent during the same period (2010-2011) from $856 million to $969 million. Consumer oriented products grew almost 20 percent to $635 million. The main exports overall were tree nuts $253 million; feeds and fodders $169 million and poultry $85 million. Saudi Arabia remained US largest export market in the GCC during 2011 with exports from the US worth $1.3 billion a remarkable 55 percent increase over the previous year. Main Saudi agricultural imports from the US include coarse grains $183 million; wheat $160 million; vegetable oil $128 million; with rice and dairy products each worth $112 million. In line with the impressive figures, SIAL Middle East has grown rapidly since its inaugural edition just two years ago. Last year in 2011, it welcomed 466 exhibitors from 43 countries, and 9,707 visitors, representing a 55 percent and 34 percent increase, respectively, on 2010 figures. Awareness and anticipation of the event has also pushed pre-event registrations up by a dramatic 85 percent year-on-year with 6,000 visitors, across all industry sectors, signing up for next week's event. This includes a contingent of 478 top hosted food buyers from the GCC, Africa and Indian subcontinent coming to SIAL Middle East to actively source new business contacts. Chris Fountain, Managing Director of Turret Media, organizers of SIAL Middle East, said: “This year's event has been built on solid foundations from 2011, when 86 percent of exhibitors had already rebooked for 2012 prior to leaving the show, due in part I'm sure to the fact that US$ 350,000,000 worth of contracts were signed onsite last year.” The event includes an action-packed conference program focusing on Private Label opportunities, a Food & Beverage Business Forum and Food Retail Forum, featuring high profile panel discussions as well as a series of interactive workshop sessions. Other highlights include the SIAL Innovation Awards. — SG
