Gulfood Manufacturing reaches new heights

The event sees 1,600 exhibitors from 58 countries gather at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) to demonstrate the latest innovations in the ingredients, machinery, logistics and equipment sectors.

The rise in popularity for the show falls in line with the Dubai Industrial Strategy – recently launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Emir of Dubai. The policy has been designed to launch Dubai onto a global platform for knowledge-based, sustainable and innovation-focused businesses.

Trixie LohMirmand, senior vice president, exhibitions and events management at DWTC, said that Gulfood Manufacturing aligns itself well with the strategy, which aims to generate more than 27,000 jobs and contribute AED160bn ($43.5bn) towards the emirate’s economy by 2030.

“This year is a genuine coming of age for Gulfood Manufacturing,”​

said LohMirmand. “As the region’s primary platform for regional food and beverage industry companies to access global food producers, equipment manufacturers and cold chain providers across the international food production value chain, Gulfood Manufacturing is a strategic catalyst for prolonged food manufacturing industry growth in Dubai, the UAE and the wider region.”​

This year’s show has expanded into 13 halls, two more than the 2015 exhibition. International exhibitors from the meat industry will have a presence at Gulfood Manufacturing 2016 including: Switzerland-based packaging firm Ilapak; manufacturing solutions company based out of the UAE, Ishida, and software manufacturer CSB-System from Germany.

The show has been split into three subdivisions, each highlighting a different area across the sector.

Ingredients Middle East showcases the latest innovations, tastes and flavours in commodity ingredients; ProPack Middle East (the largest of the denominations) demonstrates automation, processing equipment and packaging machinery to solve production challenges and Logistics Solutions Middle East provides a platform for firms in the materials handling, transport and commercial vehicles, IT and technology solutions, warehousing operation, facilitators and service providers sector.

In addition, there will be a selection of skilled free-to-attend conferences and forums covering different aspects of the industry.