Sea Food Expo 2007, the Middle East's first exhibition dedicated to the seafood industry, was opened yesterday (October 29) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dubai.

The exhibition, which was inaugurated by director of fisheries, ministry of environment & water, UAE Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Janahi, is slated to run till October 31, 2007.

The event will serve as a powerful platform for regional and international companies to showcase their products and developments in technology, equipment and services, and tap into the Middle East's burgeoning seafood market.

The exhibition has attracted 85 international exhibitors from 16 countries, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Taiwan, the UK, China, India, the Philippines, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, Maldives, Papua New Guinea and Mauritius.

The exhibition will also assist chefs, buyers, traders, importers and exporters in sourcing supplies of a wide selection of high quality seafood products, as well as to establish key networks within the regional seafood market.

In addition, seven local companies will highlight their advanced seafood processing techniques such as cold storage systems packaging equipment, as well as furnishings and fittings.

"Sea Food Expo 2007 addresses the importance of a common platform for the regional and international seafood industry to exhibit their world-class products. With a large global participation, exhibitors will have a great opportunity to gain substantial contacts and broaden their network, which will aid them in establishing business ties with local and GCC-based seafood companies," said Al Janahi.

A major highlight of the exhibition is the endorsement and participation of international public ministries and industry bodies responsible for advancing their local fisheries and aquaculture sector, such as Department of Fisheries - Malaysia, Ministry of Fisheries - Maldives, Taiwan Frozen Seafood Industry Association, Asia Pacific Fisheries Trade Organisation - Korea, Sicilian Fisheries Department - Italy, and the National Fisheries Authority - Papua New Guinea. The exhibition will also feature three pavilions hosted by Malaysia, Italy and Taiwan, which will house the countries' local companies, each with a specified area of focus.

"We launched Sea Food Expo 2007 in response to the growing Middle East market for fisheries and aquaculture products, and we are very satisfied with the unprecedented response the show has generated from international and local exhibitors. The overwhelming interest for the exhibition ensures that the expectations set for the first event of this kind will definitely be reached," said director, Orange Fairs & Events, Raees Ahmed.

Orange Fairs is the organiser of Middle East's first exhibition dedicated to the seafood industry, in addition to more than 100 exhibitions in Africa, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Middle East and Eastern Europe. - TradeArabia News Service