Orgainisers of International Plants Expo ME (IPM) have announced that the 2009 expo will include a dedicated exhibition for fresh fruit and vegetables for the first time.

World of Perishables (WOP) 2009, which takes place alongside IPM, runs from March 3-5 at the Dubai Airport Expo and is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and chairman of Dubai Municipality.

Organisers of WOP 2009 say the inclusion of the fruit and vegetable section reflects upon the huge growth in the trade of perishables. Imports of fruit and vegetables in Dubai rose by nearly 40 per cent to more than $1 billion since 2007, according to a recent market research report.

“There is no doubt that it is the diverse and burgeoning nature of the UAE’s demographics that has led directly to the increased demand for perishables,” said Sabina Dillen, head of exhibitions at Messe Essen, organiser of the show. “Fresh produce features highly in people’s diets here and the large number of divergent communities that have become established across the region all want fruit and vegetables from their home countries. It is this that has contributed to fuelling the import of such items from all over the world.”

“The strategic location of this part of the world has meant a ready availability of relatively cheap and exotic fruits,” said Michael Müller, managing director of Planetfair Dubai LLC, co-organiser of WOP 2009. “Combined with the hot weather here, this has meant an explosion in juice culture; both from the small street outlets offering freshly squeezed drinks, to supermarket retailed bottled products.”

WOP 2009 covers 4,000 sq m with 80 registered exhibitors from 17 countries. About 2,500 trade visitors are expected to attend, with 40 per cent of them being international visitors. – TradeArabia News Service