Dubai Municipality and planetfair Dubai have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday to sponsor the 10th edition of the World of Perishables (WOP) Dubai 2018, to be held later this year in Dubai, UAE.

The 2018 edition of the exhibition, an event dedicated to the region's fresh produce industry, is expected to attract participants from 35 countries, in addition to experts and specialists in the field of fresh produce, food safety, fresh food trade, technical equipment, transport and logistics.

The exhibition is a strategic platform for leading global companies in distribution, import and export of fresh produce. It also aims to highlight the important role of Dubai Municipality in promoting trade exchange through the Dubai Central Fruits and Vegetables Market, said a statement.

The event will take place from October 1 to 3, at the Dubai World Trade Center, and will be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and chairman of Dubai Municipality.

WOP 2018 will be held in conjunction with the most important trade fair for the green economic sector, the International Plants Expo Middle East - IPM Dubai 2018, held under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman of Dubai Airports, said a statement.

Ahmed AbdulKarim, assistant director general of Dubai Municipality for General Support Sector, said: “Dubai Municipality's sponsorship of the annual exhibition reflects its keenness to contribute to the emirate’s reputation and its role as a thriving commercial hub, and its efforts to complement Dubai's growth and development in various sectors, especially the commercial sector.”

“WOP Dubai is an ideal platform for businesses in the fresh produce industry to explore ways to meet the rising demand for fresh vegetables and fruit products and to discuss industry best practices, prospective partnerships and opportunities,” he said.

AbdulKarim added: “WOP Dubai provides a strategic platform for businesses and industry stakeholders to discuss the latest practices in fresh food trade and analyse market trends in the light of the growing demand for fresh produce, including the packaging, logistics and handling of perishable materials.”

“The exhibition, over the past nine years, has been extremely successful in helping businesses explore new opportunities by connecting investors, decision-makers and other stakeholders. The event becomes even more significant since the UAE is a regional hub for re-export of fresh produce, with the quantity of such goods rising about 710,000 tonnes in 2017 worth about $1.6 billion, according to the International Trade Center,” he said.

Tarek Sibai, country director, planetfair, said: “We are honoured to sign the MoU with Dubai Municipality, which is always keen to promote Dubai's position in various fields, especially the commercial segment, which is a main factor that boosts the economic sector.”

“Dubai’s strategic position has contributed significantly to the rise in the import of fresh produce from around the world,” he said.

Sibai added: “We are confident that our partnership with the Municipality will contribute to further strengthening the commercial sector by opening new business horizons for both local and foreign investors. It will also help attract more investments to Dubai, further driven by the emirate’s strategic location, population and strong economy, which will bring more successes in the coming years.”

“The aim of the exhibition is to promote the import and export of fresh vegetables and fruits in Dubai in general and in the Dubai Central Fruits and Vegetables Market in particular, thanks to the market’s strategic importance in further promoting trade exchange and economic development in the emirate,” he concluded. – TradeArabia News Service