More than 300 companies from 14 countries are participating in the upcoming 22nd Saudi Food, Hotel & Hospitality Exhibition, the largest food, beverages and hospitality event in the Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia’s food imports are projected to 31.1 million tonnes in 2019, showing an annual average growth of 3.0 per cent since 2014, said a statement from the organisers.

Over 8,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the four-day exhibition which kicks off on April 23 at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Events.

More than 300 companies from 14 countries are participating in the largest food, beverages and hospitality event in the Saudi Arabia, whose food imports are projected to 31.1 million MT in 2019, showing an annual average growth of 3.0% since 2014.

The show will leverage its regional influence to highlight the latest trends, innovations and developments in the industry, it said.

The exhibition offers the ideal platform for all sectors of the food, hotel and hospitality industry to both showcase and source products and services for the region’s markets.

This year’s event features national pavilions and individual companies from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and the UAE, said a statement.

The event will gather a number of the city’s top professional chefs, pastry chefs, cooks and bakers for Jeddah Open Cooking Championship & Art de Table competition adjudicated by a panel of renowned experts mandated by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS).

Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Omari director general of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage - Makkah Al Mukarramah Region will inaugurate the show, it added.

Zahoor Siddique, vice president of Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE), said: “At a time when the food and hospitality sectors continue to flourish, the event provides a valuable sourcing opportunity for the products and services catering to the food and hospitality industries, ranging from the finest and most unique food ingredients, to food service, kitchen and catering equipment and hotel amenities.” – TradeArabia News Service