The Netherlands has announced that a record number of 32 Dutch companies will be joining Holland’s pavilion at the Gulfood 2009 exhibition.

Gulfood 2009, which is opening tomorrow (February 23) at the Dubai Intenational Exhibition and Convention Centre, will end on Thursday (February 26).

“We are very proud to announce the Dutch participation to the Gulfood 2009 in Dubai” said the Philip de Jong, agricultural counsellor for the Netherlands to the Gulf region.

“This group of 32 Dutch companies contains suppliers of food and food ingredients as well as specialized manufacturers of processing and packaging equipment. It demonstrates the growing importance of the Gulf market for Dutch suppliers of food, food ingredients and food processing technology.”

“The Netherlands agri-food complex is very innovative and aims to provide top quality products and the latest know-how. Our policy is to strive for sustainable production methods and to work on harmonizing international trade standards. Food quality control receives utmost attention throughout the complete supply chain from farm to fork” added de Jong.

At Gulfood 2009 representatives of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) will be present to inform Gulf companies about location advantages and investment opportunities in the Netherlands.

“The record number of Dutch exhibitors at Gulfood 2009 underlines the strengths of the Netherlands when it comes to developing, producing, processing and distributing food products for global markets,” said Patrick Polman, director Gulf region of the NFIA, the Dutch government agency that is helping and advising foreign companies who wish to take advantage of the Dutch business environment as a strategic base to cover Europe.   

“The Netherlands provides a strategic location to serve markets within Europe, the Middle East and Africa”, Polman added. “The central geographical position of the Netherlands, combined with accessibility and an excellent infrastructure are only some of the reasons why numerous international companies have established their facilities in the Netherlands.”

The estimate Dutch agri-food products export value to Saudi Arabia and UAE in 2008 runs to more than Dh3 billion ($815 million).

Experts and businessmen are invited to meet the Dutch participants at the Holland Food pavilion at the Sheikh Rashid Hall and the Holland Equipment Pavilion at hall 2 as well as halls 1 and 3.

The agricultural Counsellor Philip de Jong and his team will be available to assist in establishing business contacts with Dutch agri-food companies. – TradeArabia News Service