Gulf Agriculture magazine High resolution(1) | Page 25

GULFOOD PREVIEW
Gulf region,” said Philip Seng,
President & CEO, US Meat
Export Federation (USMEF).
“Over the years, Gulfood's
footprint has expanded
considerably and it's now a key
venue for exporters looking to
grow their business in
emerging markets in Africa,
Asia and Europe.”
New to the 2018 event is the
Gulfood Discover Zone, where
exhibitors will be able to apply
for recently-launched products
to be showcased in an exclusive
and interactive lounge. The
Gulfood Discover Zone will
also feature a dedicated area for
companies that have never
conducted business in the
MENA region before and are
using Gulfood as a market-
entry opportunity. Finalists for
the Gulfood Innovation Awards,
which also return in 2018, will
also be showcased in the
Gulfood Discover Zone.
Another new feature is the
Gulfood Start-up Competition,
which is designed to foster
JANUARY FEBRUARY 2018
further innovation in the food
and beverage supply chain.
Open to aspiring food industry
professionals or students, the
competition will reward
sustainable development and
socially-impactful ideas that are
either disrupting the old ways
of doing business, or promoting
healthier and environmentally-
correct practices.
“Gulfood Start-up promises
to be the region's most
influential innovation enabler
for the next generation of food
industry pioneers,” added
LohMirmand. “The competition
will connect impassioned food
technology entrepreneurs from
across the Middle East with the
region's largest food technology
and product buyers.”
With more than 5,000-plus
exhibitors expected at the 23rd
edition of the event, Gulfood
2018 will feature more than 120
national pavilions including
first-time participants from as
far afield as Estonia, Serbia and
Slovakia. The show will also see
hundreds of international heads
of state, ministers, government
officials and scores of national
trade associations eager to ink
lucrative bi-lateral trade
agreements among tens of
thousands of anticipated visitors.
Gulfood 2018 will also see the
return of perennial features
including Halal World Food, the
world's largest annual Halal food
sourcing trade show; the annual
Emirates Culinary Guild
International Salon Culinaire; the
world's largest single-entry chef
competition; and the Gulfood
Innovation Awards, which
recognise best-in-class excellence
and innovation across the region's
food and drink industry.
Gulfood 2018 is a trade event
open strictly to business and trade
visitors. The show is open 11am-
7pm from February 18 - 21 and
11am-5pm on February 22.
Visitors can pre-register for
AED250 (USD68) at
www.gulfood.com to save
AED150 (USD40) on the on-site
entry fee of AED400 (USD108).
FIRST MAJOR
GLOBAL FOOD
INDUSTRY EVENT
OF THE YEAR WILL
SHOWCASE
THOUSANDS OF
NEW-TO-MARKET
SUPPLIERS,
INNOVATIVE
CHANNELS TO
MARKET AND
BENCHMARK
GLOBAL
COMMODITY
PRICES
GULF AGRICULTURE
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