The latest advances in agriculture sector will be showcased at 'AGRA Middle East,' expo, one of the largest agribusiness trade events in the Middle East, which opens in Dubai this month.

AgraME, to run from March 29 to 31 at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre, will provide regional and global suppliers and manufacturers a direct access to lucrative and growing markets all over Mena, including 4,000 regional buyers, dealers and distributors.

The expo is positioned to complement steady growth of agriculture sector in Mena region, said the event organisers.

The Mena region has been recognised as the most food import-dependent region in the world although recent studies have shown that agricultural growth has achieved steady progress, particularly in countries suffering from food security challenges (FSC) with growth of up to 3.2 per cent annually.

AgraME has been credited to help sustain the steady agricultural growth in the region by providing a dedicated gateway to access the latest technologies, equipment, expertise and other resources in agribusiness, said a top official.

'It is very encouraging to see different countries in the region acting proactively to cultivate the growth of the agricultural sector and subsequently boost their food production capacity. This is a significant step forward as the region seeks to address long-term food security issues,' remarked Goutam Malhotra, expo manager, AgraME.

'To complement the growing agricultural investments across the region, the expo helps global manufacturers, suppliers and technology providers in the agribusiness industry to become more aggressively involved in the development and growth of the agricultural sector of the Mena region,' Malhotra added.

According to him, this year's event will particularly focus on how to cater to the surging food demand of the region's rapidly increasing population, which has tripled from 100 million in 1960 to more than 300 million people in 2006.

This is projected to continue to grow at an annual rate of 1.7 per cent, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Supported by the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water, Dubai Municipality and Dubai Flower Centre, AgraME remains a premier networking platform for international manufacturers and suppliers of agribusiness products in the Mena region.

This year's edition has been organised to encompass five closely linked sectors – agribusiness; poultry and livestock; fishing and aquaculture; floriculture and machinery; and supplies.

According to Malhotra, there has been a 25 per cent increase in volume of participants at this year's expo, with over 150 international exhibitors, dealers, and distributors from more than 30 countries attending the event.

There will also be national pavilions from different countries including China, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain and Turkey.-TradeArabia News Service