More than 60 per cent of exhibitors at SIAL Middle East will take part in the Preservation of Grace initiative, run by the UAE Red Crescent, which will see them donate food products to be distributed later to the needy and deprived sections of the community.

The 8th edition of SIAL Middle East 2017, the fastest-growing food, beverage and hospitality event in the MENA region, will take place from December 12 to 14, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

The event is taking place under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and chairman of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA).

Chairman of the organising committee of the event, Thamer Al Qasemi, stressed the importance of SIAL Middle East in addressing the most important and prominent food supply issues in a press conference today at the Abu Dhabi Economic Media Club in the Department of Economic Development.

He said: “Innovative international production processes, strategies and quality products will be presented at SIAL this year to highlight the most important tools and plans to narrow the gap between supply and demand across the region, which is witnessing an increase in population, changing consumption patterns and rising income levels and adverse environmental changes.”

Al Qasemi unveiled the new initiative which is in line with the Year of Giving initiative, and more than 400 local and international exhibitors will contribute.

He added that the initiative reflects the keenness of the authority and its partners on participating in the charitable, humanitarian and developmental initiatives that the state has adopted, and seeks to promote these important initiatives locally and internationally.

Al Qasemi pointed out that the event will witness the organisation of a series of specialised sessions to discuss the latest trends in food and beverage sector.  

He added: “The Abu Dhabi International Date Palm Exhibition (ADDPE), sponsored by the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, is the world’s only dedicated B2B event for date palm fruit.”

“ADDPE will be co-located with SIAL Middle East, offering a perfect opportunity for date palm fruit producers and suppliers to meet with leading names in the hospitality industry,” he said.

Al Qasemi continued: “The latest edition of the exhibition will allow onsite sales for the first time, paving the way for new business opportunities for both buyers and suppliers. The exhibition will host 80 date producers and suppliers from 12 countries, including pavilions from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Oman, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine and Jordan. It also offers a perfect opportunity for participants to have a look at the sector's future trends and to host the world's leading innovators of SIAL from around the world.”

Mohamed Hilal Al Muhairi, director general of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), noted the importance of organising the event in Abu Dhabi for the third consecutive year.

He also pointed out the importance of this exhibition as one of the most significant food exhibitions in the region and an important occasion for the world food companies to present their food industries and marketing these products in the markets of the region.

Al Muhairi stated: “This exhibition is a perfect opportunity for national and regional companies to discover the latest products produced by the world's food factories, and many of these companies consider SIAL as a platform for promoting their products and establishing new partnerships with companies in the UAE and the region.”

“Our government is working to develop and improve these sectors by encouraging private sector companies and institutions in Abu Dhabi and the state to invest in, to achieve food security and meet the consumers' needs of these strategic food products,” he said.

Ali Al Saad, director of communications office in Abu Dhabi Farmers' Services Centre (ADFSC), affirmed that SIAL Middle East is an important platform for those interested in food industries in the region.

Adding that the exhibition is an opportunity for food manufacturers to meet traders and a suitable environment for those interested in investing in food activities to make local and international trade deals.

Al Saad said: “We are proud to be the silver sponsor of SIAL and the golden sponsor of ADDPE due to the importance of these exhibitions in highlighting the name of the UAE and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in the field of organising exhibitions, especially food and agriculture exhibitions."

“We are working to strengthen the centre's role as a leading partner in achieving sustainable agricultural development, supporting local products and contributing to realising food security based on the local production of Abu Dhabi farms," he said.

"ADFSC also seeks to highlight the story behind its ‘Local Harvest’ brand during SIAL activities," he added.

The year's edition is supported by host sponsor Abu Dhabi Chamber; diamond sponsor Jenaan Investments; silver sponsors Abu Dhabi Farmers' Service Center and Al- Rawafed; platinum sponsors, My Dubai and the Deep Seafood Company, and Halal Certificates sponsor, Emirates Authority for Standardization & Metrology.

The exhibition will host more than 24,000 experts in food sector, which will be an increase of more than 25 per cent from the previous year, more than 400 exhibitors will be participating in ‘Year of Giving’ Initiative, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service